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AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION
1911-14.
UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OP SIR DOUGLAS AAWSON. D.Sc, B.E.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS.
SERIES C-ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY.
VOL. VI. PART 3.
POLYCH/ETA.
ru^ f tf "^ ^
BY
W. D. BENHA/A. r\.A. (OxoN.), D.Sc. (Lond.). F.R.S.. F.N. Z.Inst.
• WITH SIX PLATES AND A MAP.
PRICE: TWELVE SHILLINGS.
Printed by William Applceate Gullick. Givirnmi-m PrinlCT. Phlllip-strpet, Sydney.— 1921
ISSUED JUNE. 1921.
Series C— REPORTS ALREADY ISSUED.
Vol,
Paj
III
1.
HI.
2.
IV.
1.
IV.
2.
IV.
3.
Price.
'• 8. d.
FISHES. By Mr. Edgab R. Waite, F.L.S., South Australian Museum, Adelaide 8 G
PTEROBRANCHIA. By Dr. W. G. F.idewood, D.S,;., London 2
MOLLUSCA :— PELECYPODA AND GASTROPODA.
By Mr. C. Hedley, F.L.S., Australian Museum, Sydney 8 6
MOLLUSCA :— CEPHALOPODA By Dr. S. Stillman Berry, Redlands, Cal 3 6
BRACmOPODA.
By Dr. J. Allan Thomson, M.A., D.Sc, Dii-ector Dominion Museum, Wellington, N.Z. G
V. L ARACHXIDA FROM MACQUAPJE ISLAND.
By 5Ir. W. J. Rainbow, F.E.S., Australian Museum, Svdney 1
v. 2. BRACHYURA.
By Miss Maey J. Rathbun; United States National Museum; Washingtonj U.S.A. 1
V, 3. COPEPODA. By Dr. G. Stewardson Brady, F.R.S 5 6
V. i. GLADOCERA AND HALOCYPRID^. By Dr. G. Stewardson Brady, F.R.S 2
^', 6. EUPHAUSIACEA AND MYSIDACEA.
Dr. W. M. TATTER.SALL, D.Sc, Keeper, University Museum, Manchester I 6
V. 6. CUMACEA AND PHYLLOCARIDA.
By Dr. W. T. Calman, D.Sc., Britiali Museum, Natural History
OSTRACODA. By Mr. Fb'lderick Chapman, A.L.S., F.R.M.S., National Museum, Melbourne...
THE INSECTS OF MACQUARIE ISLAND. By R. J. Tillyard, M.A., D.Sc, F.L.S., F.E.S.,
with APPENDICES by P. of. C. T. Bbues, Ph.D., and A. M. Lea, F.E.S
CALCAREOUS SPONGES. By Prof. A. S. Dendy, D.Sc, F.R.S., F.Z.S., King's College, London
THE CH^TOGNATHA. By Professor T. Habvey Johnston, M.A., D.Sc, C.M.Z.S., and
B. Buckland Taylor, F.L.S., Biology Department, University, Brisbane
MOSSES. By Mr. H. N. Dixon, IiI.A., F.L.S., and Rev. W. Walter Watts
THE ALGAE OF COMMONWEALTH BAY. By Mr. A. H. S. Lucas, M.A., Oxon., B.Sc, Loni.
THE VASCULAR FLORA OF MACQUARIE ISLAND.
By T. F. Cheeseman, F.L.S., F.Z.S., Auckland Museum, N.Z. 6 6
VIL 4. BACTERIOLOGICAL AND OTHER RESEARCHES.
By A. L. McLean, B.A., MD., Gh.M. (M.C.) 10
V.
7.
V.
8.
VL
1.
VI.
2.
VII,
1.
VU.
2.
VII.
3.
1
3
4
7
2
9
2
1
10
1
I)
3
AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION
1911-14.
UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF SIR DOUGLAS DAWSON, D.Sc, BE
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS,
SERIES C-ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY.
VOL. VI. FART 3.
POLYCH/ETA,
Q. 6" i^ ii-fj
BY
W. B. BENHA/A. /A.A. (Oxon.), D.Sc. (Lond.). F.R.S., F.N. Z.Inst.
WITH SIX PLATES AND A AAP.
PRICE: TWELVE SHILLINGS.
Printed by William Applcgate fiuUick, fiovcrnment Printer Phillip-stt«t, Sydney. — tslt.
' S3892— A
ERRATA.
p. 7. — The number of Antarctic species should be 140 instead nf I2F!.
P. 16, hne '2.i. — " Phyllococe " should read " Phyllodoce."
P. 19. — In the list of Macquarie Island species, "assirails" in penultimate line should
read " assimilis."
P. 25, line 4. — For "a symmetrical" read " an asymmetrical."
P. 73, line 13 from foot. — Last words " S. clajjaredi" should re.ad "0. claparedi."
P. 85, line n. — "Introduction, p. 10" should read " p.x."
P. 122. — I did not see proofs of the plates, and unfortunately the letterings of certain
figures illustrating the structure of Phyllocoinus, and Amythas have been
omitted.
P. li;5. — " Dibraniliiata PhvUconius " should read " Phyjlocomus."
CONTENTS.
Introduction
List of species collected
Polychseta from Commonwealtli Bay
Gatherings from the various stations
Summary of results
Macquarie Island
Maria Island
Systematic account
Family Syllidae ...
,, Aphroditidfe
,, Phyllodocidse
,, Alciopidse
,, Tomopteridae
,, Nereidee
,, Nephthydidae
,, Amphinomidfe
,, Eunicidae
,, Glyceridfe
,, Sphserodorida}
,, Ariciidse
,, Cirratulidae
,, Terebellidse
,, Ampharetidse
,, Capitellidse
,, Maldanidse
,, Arenicolidae
,, Chlorhsemidae
,, Sabellidae
,, Serpulidfe
Bibliography
Explanation of Plates
Index
Plates.
PAGE.
5
8
10
12
15
19
19
20
20
31
51
58
61
65
68
69
70
74
74
77
81
82
97
105
105
108
108
109
112
114
117
124
POLYCH^TA.
By W. B. Benham, M.A. (Oxon.), D.Sc. (Lond.), F.R.S., F.N.Z.Inst., Professor of
Biology, Uixiversity of Otago, New Zealand.
With Six Plates and a Map.
INTRODUCTION.
The Polyclia?t fauna of the Antarctic and Sub-antarctic regions is perliaps as well known
as that of any other region, with the exception, it may be, of that of the North Sea and
Mediterranean, which has been studied intensively by numerous zoologists for nearly
a century.
In defining the extent of the Antarctic region I follow Ehlers, who includes not
only the shores of the land-mass, but those islands which lie to the south of the outer-
most limit of the drifting sea-ice; thiis the islands of South Georgia and Bouvet are
included, while the Falkland, Crozet and Kerguelen Islands Ijelong to the Sub-antarctic
region.
The various expeditions to these high southern latitudes have brought back a
considerable number of worms, many of which, indeed the majority, are confined to
these two regions.
During the voyages of the " Eugenie" (1851-1853), of the " Challenger" (1873-
1876), of the "Gazelle" (1876), and of the "Valdivia" (1898-1899) more or less
extensive areas of the oceans were explored, but the Sub-antarctic region was visited
only incidentally. To Kinberg we owe the foundation of om* knowledge of the worms
of this Notial region since the " Eugenie" visited Kerguelen and the Magellan Strait
during its voyage. Other species were added by Grube in his report, while the accounts
of Mcintosh and Ehlers not only extended our knowledge of this region, but for the
first time contain descriptions of worms from the Antarctic Seas; and these ships
had been able to explore them to greater depths than had been possible previously.
Later expeditions, on the other hand, visited the edge of the Antarctic land-mass
with the express purpose of studying the scientific problems presented by that region
and these expeditions remained there for many months, so that the naturalists were
afforded opportunities of making extensive collections of the marine animals living in
the ice-covered sea.
6 AUSTEALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.
Of these Antarctic expeditions, the "Southern Cross" (1898) had its winter
quarters off Cape Adare in the Ross Sea; the " Discovery " ( 1901-1904), under Captain
R. F. Scott, R.N., was ]ield fast in the ice for two years in McMurdo Bay, South Victoria
Land; both these places being to the south of New Zealand. The German South-
polar expedition on the " Gauss" (1901-1903) wintered off Kaiser Wilhelm II Land
which lies to the south of Kerguelen ; while the two French expeditions on the
"Frangais" (1903-1905) and on the " Pourquoi Pas?" (1908-1910) explored the
lands and islands to the soiith of America, wintering off Petermaim Island.*
In the terms of Sir Clements Markham's subdivisions of the Antarctic land-
mass, the two English expeditions explored and wintered in the " Victoria Quadrant";
the German in the " Enderby," and the French in the " Weddell Quadrant" (see Waite,
1916).
We have consequently collections of Polychseta from the seas extending more
than half way round the Antarctic land-mass.
During the voyage of the " Erebus" and " Terror" (1839-1843), under Sir
James Clarke Ross, R.N., the Antarctic was visited, but no report on Polychseta was
issued. It is probable that the few isolated descriptions of worms from the
" Antarctic," published by some of the earlier English Naturalists, such as Baird's
Eunice antarctica, were collected by that expedition.
Other expeditions have visited the Antarctic in recent years, but the reports
on the collections of Polychseta either have not yet been issued, or certain families only
have received attention. The Belgian expedition (1897-1899) conveyed by the
" Belgica." has apparently published no report on the group. Of those obtained by
the Swedish expedition (1901-1903) the family Maldanidae has been dealt with by
Arwidsson. Of the Polycha?tes gathered by the "Scotia" during the Scottish
National Expedition (1902-1904) the families Serpulidae and Sabellidse have been
reported upon by Helen Pixell ; and the Nereidse by L. N. G. Ramsay ; while the
British Antarctic expedition (1907-1909), under Sir E. Shackleton, has not yet issued
any report on the group.
Although these various expeditions collected chiefly from the Antarctic and
Sub-antarctic regions, yet most of them took any opportunity that was presented of
gathering animals elsewhere ; but with these we are not concerned.
In order to compare the results obtained by the " Aurora " with those of
previous expeditions, it may be convenient to tabulate the number of species collected,
and the number of new species recorded from the Antarctic seas.
* The French expeditions obtained Annelids from various localities off the South Shetland group (e.g., ile Deception
and Admiralty Bay), and from various stations near the islands lying to the north, and, chiefly, to the south of Graham
Land, « g , Terre Alexandre, Terre Fallic^-re, ile Booth Wandel (where Port Charcot is situated), ile Wiencke (Port
■'f •^kroy), ile Petermann(at Port Circoncision), ile Anvers (where is Biscoe Bay), &c. It will be sufficient to refer to these
itiei i. genera! by the terra "South American Antartic," r-tl-sr than repeat every locality when listing distribution.
POLYCH^TA— BENHAM.
Antarctic Polych^ta.
Total
Number
Ship.
Number of
Species.
of
New Species.
Challenger . . .
Southern Cross
' 4
15
4
3
Frangais . . .
Valdivia ...
34
16
14
5
Pourquoi Pas?
Discovery ...
Gauss
34
36
83
13
11
20
Aurora
47
6
I have estimated from these various reports, including the present one, that
about 128 species of Polychseta are known from the Antarctic seas.
Of these the families niost abundantly represented are : — ■
Terebellidse
SyUidaj
Phyllodocidae
Aphroditida?
Maldanida; ...
Serpulidae
Sabellidae
Ampharetidaj
Opheliida^, Ty|)hloscolecidtB, and Chlorhaemidse
Amphinomidaj and Hesionidse
Alciopidae and Ariciidse ...
Nereidae, Eunicidse, Sphaerodoridse, and Spionidae
Nephthydidse, Tomopteridse
Glyceridse, Capitellida3, Scalibregmida?, Ammocharidse and Cirratulidse are each
represented by one species only.
The winter quarters of the " Am'ora" were in Commonwealth Bay, Adelie Land,
to the south of Australia; and it was here that most of the collecting was carried out.
A small party had been left on Macquarie Island in connection with the Meteorological
and Wireless Station, and during the two years spent here a number of Polychtetes
and Oligochastes were gathered around the shore.
A few worms were also obtained by trawling off Maria Island, Tasmania, imder
the supervision of Professor T. T. Flynn, of the University of Tasmania, who had accom-
panied the " Aiu'ora" on one of her trips to the Macquaries.
25
species
21
,,
18
,,
14
,,
10
„
10
!>
9
,,
7
,,
6
each.
5
>)
4
,,
3
,,
2
,
AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.
LIST OF SPECIES COLLECTED.
PAGE.
Family Syllidse —
Syllis dosterohranchia Schmarda 20
Syllis brachycola Ehlers ... ... ... ... ... ... 22
PionosyUis comosa Gravier ... ... ... ... ... ... 22
Trypanosyllis gigantea Mcintosh 23
Splicer osyllis mcintosJii Ehlers ... ... ... ... ... ... 26
Exogone anomcdochoeta sp. nov. ... ... ... ... ... 24
Autolytus charcoti Gravier ... ... ... ... ... ... 27
Family Aphi-oditidfe —
Sub-family Hermioiiiuse — •
Lcetmonice producta Grube ... ... ... ... ... ... 31
LcEtmonice producta var. bentJmliana Mcintosh ... ... ... 31
Sub-family Polynoinse —
Enipo rhombigera Ehlers 32
HololepideUa flynni sp. nov 33
Physalidonot'us rugosus Benham ... ... ... ... ... 3.5
Harmotho? spinosa Kinberg ... ... ... ... ... ... 35
Harmothoe tuberosa Ehlers ... ... ... ... ... ... 39
H. (Eunoa) abyssorum Mcintosh 42
Eulagisca corrienfis Mcintosh 43
Hermadion rouchi Gravier ... ... ... ... ... ... 40
Family Phyllodocidae —
Sub-family Phyllodocina3 —
Phyllodoce madeirensis Langerhans ... ... ... ... ... 51
Eulalia magalhaensis Kinberg ... ... ... ... ... ... 52
Eulcdia charcoti Gravier ... ... ... ... ... ... 52
Pterocirrus mcleani sp. nov. ... ... ... ... ... ... 55
Pterocirrus hunteri sp. nov. ... ... ... ... ... ... 53
Eteone reyi Gravier ... ... ... ... ... 56
Sub-family Lopadorhychina? — •
Pdagobia viguieri Gravier ... ... ... ... ... ... 57
Family Alciopidse —
Vanmlis antarctica Mcintosh ... ... ... ... ... ... 58
Family Tomopteridse — ■
Tomopteris carpenteri Quatrefages ... ... ... 61
T. septentrionalis Quatrefages. ... ... ... ... ... ... 64
POLYCHiETA— BENHAM. 9
PAGE.
Family Nereidse —
Nereis loxechini Kinberg 65
Nereis australis Schmarda '^"^
Nereis kerguelensis Mcintosh ... ... ... ... ••• ••• 68
Family Nephthydidse —
Nephthys macrura Schmarda 68
Family Amphinomidae—
Eurythoe complanata Pallas 69
Family Eunicidse —
Sub-family Eunicina? —
Eunice tentaculata Quatrefages 70
S ub-f amily Lumbriconereinse —
Lumbriconereis magalhaensis Kinberg 70
Lumhriccmereis macquariensis sp. nov. 71
Ophryotrocha daparedi Studer 72
Family Glyceridsa —
Glycera capitata Oersted 74
Family Sphaerodoridse —
SpJuerodorum spissum sp. nov. ... ... ... ... ... 74
Family Ariciidse —
Aricia marginata Ehlers ... ... ... ••. ••• ••• 77
A. marginata var. nicleani nov. var. ... ... ... ... ••. 78
Scoloplos maicsoni sp. nov 79
Family Cirratulidse —
Cirratulus cirratus Miiller ... ... ... ..• ... ••• 81
FamUy Terebellidse —
Sub-family Ampliitritinse —
Amphitrite kerguelensis Mcintosh ... ... .•• ••• ••• 82
Terehella ehlersi Gravier 82
Terebella vayssieri Gravier ... ... ... ... ... .•• 83
Thelepus antarcticus Kinberg 91
TMepus setosus Quatrefages 91
Leoena arenilega Ehlers ... ... ... ... ••• ••• ••• 89
Leprea streptochceta Ehlers 94
Scione mirabilis Mcintosh 85
Sub-family Polycirrinse —
Polycirrus hamiUoni sp. nov 94
Ereutho antarctica Willey 95
*83892— B
10 AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.
PAGI
Family Ampliaretida? —
PhyUocomus dibranchiata sp. nov. ... ... ... ... ... 97
Amythas membranifera gen. sp. nov 102
Family Capitellidfe —
Isomastus perarmatus Gravier ... ... ... ... ... ... 105
Family Maldanidse — •
Rhodine intermedia Arwidsson 105
Isocirrus yungi Gravier ... ... ... ... ... ... 106
Family Arenicolidae- —
Arenicola assimilis var. affinis Asli worth ... ... ... ... 108
Family Chlorlisemidaj —
Fktbelligera ynundata Gravier ... 108
Family Sabellidse —
Potamilla antarctica Kinberg 109
Family Serpulidse^
Serpula vermicularis var. narconensis Baird ... ... ... 112
Spirorbis nordensJcjoldi Fillers 113
II.— POLYCH^TA FROM COMMONWEALTH BAY.
I liave been snpplied by Mr. J. G. Hunter, Biologist to the expedition, with the
following information as to the collection of the worms : — ■
" During the greater part of the year 1912 dredgings were carried out in a small
boat-harbom- close to winter quarters. The depth varied from 2-5 fathoms ; the
bottom for the most part muddy, and dredgings yielded a considerable number of
Annulates, which form the chief constituent of the fauna of these shallow waters.
" Dredging in deejjer water was prevented by the abnormal weather conditions
that prevailed. In these latitudes the sea generally freezes over during the winter,
and then by digging channels in the ice a dredge can be lowered. The violence of the
winds at Adelie Land, however, prevented the sea from freezing, excepting at the
beginning of September, 1912, when, during a calm lasting for several days, the sea
froze sufficiently to allow of dredgmg operations. And so, on the 3rd and 4th of that
month, rich hauls were made in depths from 15-30 fathoms.
" While the ' Aurora' was anchored in Commonwealth Bay, several dredgings
were made with a small hand-dredge— (a) on 20th January, 1913, in 15-20 fathoms ;
(b) on 14th December of the same year, in 45-50 fathoms ; and (c) on 21st of the month,
in 55-60 fathoms.
POLYCH^TA-^BENHAM. 11
" During the summer cruise, Mr. J. G. Hunter, assisted by Mr. H. Hamilton,
a number of dredgings were taken in deeper waters, the ' Aurora ' lieing specially fitted
for this purpose."
In addition, some tow-netting was done in the bay.
The list of stations and the details of the hauls follow. A total of forty-seven
species were obtained at these stations, the majority of which, as would be expected,
are already known : but I have found it necessary to establish two new species of
Phyllodocids of the ,sub-genus Pterocirrus, namely, E id alia {Pterocirms) hunteri and
Eulalia {Pterocirrus) mdeani : as well as a new species of Exogone, and of Scdoflos,
and a new variety of Aricia marginata, in which the arrangement of the spines in
the anterior segments presents a condition recalling that occurring in A. ohlini Ehlers.
Further, a new species of the Ampharetid Phyllocomus, hitherto represented
only by P. crocea C4rube, exhibits a form of gill unique in the family. While a new
genus in the same family seems needed for a species which possesses an entirely novel
kind of tentacular apparatus in the form of a folded and introversible membrane in
place of the usual filamentous tentacles. I have named this worm Aintjthas mem-
bratiifera.
The collection is also of interest in that it contains as many as three specimens
of the rare Nereis loxechini Kinberg, of which only three individuals have hitherto
been recorded.
Tomopteris carpenteri Quatrefages, so long umecognised, is also represented,
and is fully described ; and a northern species, T. septentrionalis Quatrefages, is included
in the collection. Certain other species hitherto found only outside the Antarctic
region must now be included in that fauna, namely, Eulmjisca corrientis Mcintosh,
and Ennoa abyssorum Mcintosh.
In the total number of species submitted to me, and therefore presumably
collected l)y the '' Aurora," the present compares favourably with the number
taken bv previous expeditions, other than the "Gauss," which was an extremely rich
collection.
One cannot help being struck with the enormous quantity of some of the species
living at the sea-bottom in these cold seas. Thus in this collection I find in a single
haul more than 100 individuals of TJielepus antarcticus ; again, sixty- five individuals
of Harmothoe spinosa were obtained at one haul; and of Potamilla antarctica as many
as forty were brought up in the dredge at one spot.
This abundance of individuals may be due in part to the scarcity of enemies
and m part to the fact that the conditions, although so apparently severe, must in
reality be very favourable for theu' existence.
12 AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.
GATHERINGS FROM THE VARIOUS STATIONS.
1. Adelie Land.
Boat Harbour, Commonwealth Bay, Adelie Land. Lat. 67° South. Long. 142° 36' I^'.ast.
A. — 2-5 fathoms. Collected by Dr. A. L. McLean: —
Syllis dosterobrancMa.
Pionosyllis comosa.
Sphcerosyllis fncintosJii.
Exogone anomalochcpta.
Autolytus clmrcoti.
Harmothoe spinosa.
Harmothoe tuherosa.
Nephthys macrura.
Ophryotrocha claparedi.
Aricia marginata.
Scoloplos mmvsoni.
Cirratulus cirratus.
Terebella elilersi.
Terebella vayssieri.
Ereutho antarctica.
Ismnastus perarmatus.
Rhodine intermedia.
Spirorhis nordenskjoldi.
B.— Boat Harbom', 25-30 fathoms (3rd and 4th September, 1912) ;—
Harmothoe tuherosa.
Phyllodoce madeirensis .
Nephthys macrura.
Aricia marginata var. mcleani.
Terebdla ehlersi.
Thelepus antarcticus.
Potamilla antarctica.
Serpula vermicularis var. narconenis.
C. — Conuuonwealth Bay, 15-20 fathoms (20th January, 1913) :—
Syllis dosterobrancMa.
Harmothoe spinosa.
Harmothoe tuherosa.
Terehella elilersi.
Tftelepus antarcticus.
Leatna arenileija.
POLYCHiETA— BENHAM. 13
D. — Commonwealth Bay, 45-50 fathoms (14th December, 1913) : —
Hyllis closterobranchin.
Tryanosyllis gigantea.
Harmothoe spinosa.
Harmothoe tuberosa.
Enifo rhomhigera.
PhyUodoce madeirensis .
TerebeUa eMersi.
E. — Commonwealth Bay, 55-60 fathoms (21st December, 1913) :—
Harmothoe spinosa.
Harmothoe tuberosa.
Enipo rhomhigera.
TerebeUa eUersi.
Summer Cruise, 1913-1914.
Station 1.— Lat. 66° 50' South. Long. 142° 6' East. Dej^th, 350-400 fathoms. Tem-
perature, — 1-84° Cent. Bottom, thick ooze. (22nd December, 1913 )
Tryp an osyllis gig ant ea .
Harmothoe spinosa.
Harmothoe tuberosa.
Hermadion rouchi.
Enipo rhomhigera.
Pterocirrus mcleani.
Serpula vermicularis var. narconensis.
Station 2.— Lat. 66° 55' South. Long. 145° 21' East. Depth, 318 fathoms. Tem-
perature, — 1-8° Cent. Bottom, ooze." (28th December, 1913.)
Trypanosyllis gigantea. '
Enipo rhomhigera.
Eulalia cliarcoti.
Nereis loxechini.
Glycera capitata.
Aricia marginata.
Scione mirabilis.
Serpula vermicularis var. narconensis .
Station 3.— Lat. 66° 32' South. Long. 141° 39' East. Depth, 157 fathoms. Tem-
perature, — 1-62° Cent. Bottom, ooze. (31st December, 1913.)
Syllis closterobranchia.
LcBtmonice producta.
Harmothoe spinosa.
Harmothoe tuberosa.
Enipo rlwmbigera.
14 AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.
Eulalia clmrcoti.
Nereis loxechini.
Nephthys macrura.
Ifocirrus yungi.
A mp hit rit e kerguel ensis .
P hylloc omus dib ran c Mat a.
Potamilla antarctica.
Stations 4, 5 and 6 yielded no Polychfetes.
Station 7.— Lat. 65° 42' Sonth. Loiig. 92° 10' East. Depth, 60 fathoms. Tem-
perature not taken. Bottom, red Algae, and a few small rocks, and various forms
of animal life; no ooze. (1st January, 1914.)
Vanadis antarctica.
Potamilla antarctica.
Station B.^Lat. 66° 8' South. Long. 94° 17' East. Depth, 120 fathoms. Tem-
perature not taken. Bottom, small granitic rocks ; no ooze. (27th January,
1914.)
Harmothoe spinosa.
Harmothoe tuberosa.
Eulagisca corrientis.
Enipo rJwmbigera.
Phyllodoce madeirensis .
Eulalia charcoti.
Scione mirabilis.
Potamilla antarctica.
Serpula vermicularis var. narconensis.
Station 9.^Lat. 65° 20' South. Long. 95° 27' East. Depth, 240 fathoms. Tem-
perature, +1-38° Cent. Bottom, granitic pebbles, with small amount of ooze.
(28th January, 1914.)
Serpula vermicularis var. narconensis .
Station 10.— Lat. 65° 6' South. Long. 96° 13' East. Depth, 325 fathoms. Tem-
perature, — 1-65° Cent. Bottom, ooze. (29th January, 1914.)
Harmothoe spinosa.
H. {Eunoa) abyssorum.
Enipo rhombigera.
Hermadion rouchi.
Nereis loxechini.
Lumbriconereis magalha/^fisis .
Flabelligera mundata.
Amythas membranifera.
Serpula vermicularis var. narconensis.
POLYCH^TA— BENHAM. 15
Station 11.— Lat. 64° 44' South. Long. 97° 28' East. Depth, 358 fathoms. Tem-
perature not taken. Bottom, ooze. (31st January, 1914.)
Laimonice product a.
Harmothoe (Eunoa) abyssorum.
Station 12.— Lat. 64° 32' South. Long. 97° 20' East. Depth, 110 fathoms. Tem-
perature not taken. Bottom, rock. (31st January, 1914.)
Harmothoe sfinosa.
H. (Eunoa) abyssorum.
Hermadion rouchi.
Enipo rhombigera.
Eulalia charcoti.
Pterocirrus hunteri.
Nephthys macrura.
Glycera capitata.
Flabdligera mundata.
Scione mirabilis.
Potamilla antarctica.
Station 13. — Depth, 1,800 fathoms. No worms were taken.
Surface Tow-netting.
Boat Harbour. — ^By Dr. A. L. McLean.
Autolytus cliarcoti (1912).
Vanadis antarctica (1913).
On edge of pack-ice.
Pekujobia viguieri, in 45-100 fathoms. (6th and 10th January, 1914.)
Tomopteris septentrionalis , in 45-100 fathoms. (6th and 10th January, 1914.)
Tomopteris carpenteri, iji 30-45 fathoms. (January, 1914.)
Summary of Kesults.
It seems unnecessary to give tabular statements of the faunistic relations of
these Antarctic species, for this has been done by Gravier, and h\ greater elaboration
by Ehlers in his magnificent and exhaustive report of the German expedition (1913).
But a summary of the results in regard to each of the families represented in
this collection may be useful.
Faniily SYLLID^.
Twenty-one species of this family have been recorded from the Antarctic region,
but the present collection contains only five of them. Owing, no doubt, to their small
size, these worms are likely to be overlooked unless great care be taken in sorting out
the material.
16 AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.
Of the six species in the collection, Exogone anomalochceta is new; which with
Autolytus charcoti and PiornsylUs comosa is limited, so far as is known, to the region.
The atokous and both sexes in the epitokoiis phases of Autolytus were met with.
Sfhcprosyllis mcintoshi passes northwards beyond this region to Kerguelen and South
Georgia. Trypanosyllis gigantea occurs in the Magellan area, and Syllis clostero-
branchia passes beyond the Sub-antarctic region into the Southern Temperate zone
to West Africa and to New Zealand.
Family APHRODITID.E.
Hitherto twelve species have been noted as occurring in the Antarctic, of which
five are found in the present collection, and two additional species are to be recorded
as entering the region. Of these seven species Enipo rhomhigera, Hermadion. rouchi
and Harmothos tuherosa are confined to the region. H. spinosa, a very common worm
here, is also met with in the sub-antarctic area. Lretmonice producta is the most
widely distributed, passing northwards in the Atlantic to the West Coast of Ireland,
and up through the Pacific to the Japan coast.
The two additions to the Antarctic fauna are Eunoa abyssorum, which is known
elsewhere only in deep water to the south east of Australia ; and Eulagisca corrientis
ranges up the east coast of South America as far as Buenos Ayres.
Family PHYLLODOCID^.
This family is represented in the region by sixteen species, three of which occur
in the " Aurora" gatherings. Of these Eulalia clmrcoti, Eteone regi, and Pelagobia
viguieri are confined to the Antarctic ; and two new species have to be added to the
list, namely, Pterocirrus Mclcant, and Pt. hunteri. The fifth is Phyllococe tnadeirensis ,
whose specific name would scarcely lead us to expect it in these waters, yet it has
already been recorded from Cape Adare as well as from South Georgia and Juan Fer-
nandez. Fauvel has suggested, in explanation of the wide distribution of this and some
other species, that it descends in the equatorial regions to great depths, and passing
southwards reappears in the colder waters at less depths.
Family ALCIOPID^.
The only spec'es observed is Vanadis ant sctica, which has a world-wide range
through the oceans, as one would expect from its pelagic habit.
Family TOMOPTERID.E.
The only species which have been collected in Antarctic seas are the two species
included in the present report, namely, T. carpenteri, the history of which will be
found detailed in the systematic portion, and T. septentrionalis , which has recently
been recorded by Gravier from the Weddell Quadrant.
POLYCH.ETA— BENHAM. 1?
Family NEREIDiE.
As in other expeditions, this fanuly was found but sparsely in the Antarctic;
indeed, until 1908, the only species that had been met with was N. loxecMni, which
Kinberg had originally described from the Magellan Strait, but which in recent years
has been recorded from the deep water to the east of Island of St. Paul, and from the
winter quarters of the " Gauss." But Ehlers found amongst the " Valdivia" worms
Nereis uncinata from near Bouvet Island. The " Aurora" did not meet with it.
Family NEPHTHYDID.E.
In addition to xY. macrura, which is a Sub-antarctic form entering the Antarctic
region, .V. ahranckiata, has been recorded from the region by Ehlers (1913).
Family EUNICIDiE.
The Eunicids scarcely enter the Antarctic, for only two species have ever been
recorded, both of which are included in the present collection. Lumbricmereis magal-
h'tcnsis is a typically Siib-antarctic form, and only one specimen was gathered in
Commonwealth Bay. The small pelagic Ophryotrocha claparedi was however
extremely abundant in Boat Harbour ; it has already been gatliered elsewhere,
though recorded under the title of Paractius notialis.
Family GLYCERIDiE.
Glycera copifata, originally described from the European seas, is the oiJy member
of the family that appears to enter the region under consideration. It has been met
with by each of the expeditions.
Famay ARICIIDiE.
Hitherto only three species belonging to the family have been described from
the Antarctic region. One of these, Aricia marginata, is included in the present col-
lection. A new species, Scoloplos mawsoni, is necessary for a worm that differs from
S. kergudensis , which has been recorded by the French Expedition, but which is
characteristically a Sub-antarctic form.
Family CIRRATULID^.
The Cirratulids aro also very rare in the region ; only one species has been
definitely determined, though Ehlers found certain worn^s which he names generically
without giving specific names to them. This sole species is the European Cirratulus
cirratus, hitherto kno\\Ti from the Magellan Strait and elsewhere in the south under
Ehlers' s title, Prameniafulgida, which Fauvel has shown to be a nomen nudun.
Family TEREBELLID.E.
The Antarctic is a favourable habitat for members of the family, as each
expedition adds one or more to the species already knowai. Of the twenty-four that
have been recorded the " Aurora" obtained seven off Adelie Land. Of these, three
♦83892— c
is AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.
appear to be confined to the Antarctic region, namely, Terebella ehlersi, T. vayssieri,
and Leana arenilega. The others enter the sub-antarctic region at Kerguelen and
Tierra del Fuego, &c., while the seventh Scione mirahilis (which, as I show, includes
S. spinifera Ehlers) travels up both coasts of South America into the southern tem-
perate zone.
Family AMPHARETID^.
Six species of this family have been gathered by previous expeditions within
this area ; the present report contains an account of only two species, both of them
new, as I have mentioned earlier in the memoir. These are Phyllocomus dihranchiata
and Amythas (gen. nov.) memhranifera.
Family CAPITELLID^.
It has been stated that this family does not enter the Antarctic region, but
Gravier has recorded one species, Isomastus perarmatus from the Weddell Quadrant,
and this has also been obtained by the " Aurora."
Family MALDANID^.
The Swedish expedition has added materially to our knowledge of the family,
as it exists in this region so that seven well characterised species and some varieties are
known, as well as three unspecified forms recorded by Ehlers. The " Aurora"
gathered two of the species, both of which are confined to this region, namely, Rhodine
intermedia (hitherto confused with the northern R. loveni) and Isocirms yungi, originally
discovered at Petermann Island.
Family CHLORHiEMIDiE.
Of the six species of Flabelligera reported from the Antarctic only one is included
in this collection {F. mundata), which is wide-spread round the southern land-mass.
The only other member of the family that has been mentioned is TropJionia kergudarum
Grube, as having been obtained by the " Discovery" at winter quarters, but no
reference to this locality is made in Ehlers in his later works, though it is sub-antarctic
in its distribution.
Family SABELLID^E.
Nine species have been recorded from this region, of which tour are quite small
and have been obtained only by the " Gauss." The only species collected by the
" Aiu-ora" is Potamilla antarctica, which occurs in considerable numbers, and some-
times attains a large size. It also enters the Sub-antarctic region.
Family SERPULIDiE.
Two of the ten species known to occur in the Antarctic are contained in this
collection — 'the widely distributed Serpula vermicularis and Spirorbis nordenskjoldi.
POLYCHiETA— BENHAM. 19
2. ]\Iacquarie Island.
This island has not hitherto l)een explored for Polychaeta, but thanks to the
industry and care of Mr. H. Hamilton during the nearly two years he sojoiuuied here,
I can put on record fifteen species of which three are new : Luiitbricanereis macquariensis,
Sflwerodorum spissum and Polycirrus hmniltoni. All the other species are t\'picallv
sub-antarctic in character, and have been recorded either from the southern outliers of
New Zealand or from the Kerguelen or Falkland Islands. They were all collected in
rock pools or under stones or rocks along the shore.
Syllis d ost erob ran c hi a .
Syllis brachycola.
Exogone anoiiialocJiosta.
Eulalia m ag al haensis .
Nereis Jc ergu elensis .
Nereis australis ( = magalhatnsis).
Lumbriconereis mcujalJuiensis .
Lwnb ricon ereis m acquariensis .
Sphoerodorum spissum .
Cirraiulus cirratus .
TJielepus setosus.
Leprea streptoch(Pta.
Polycirrus hamiltoni.
Arenicola assimils var. affinis.
Potamilla antarctica (small forms).
3. IMaeia Island, Tasmania.
Five species were obtained in the two trawls put down by Professor Flynn.
Of these one is new, and belongs to a Polynoid genus, Hololepidella, established by
Willey for a Ceylon species. Two of the other species obtained have already been
reported from the neighbourhood ; the remaining couple are widely distributed.
Hololepidella flynni (fi'om 1,300 fathoms).
Physfdidonotus rugosus (from 65 fathoms).
Lcetmonice producta var. benthaliana (from 1,300 fathoms).
Eunice tentaculata (from 65 fathonrs).
Eurythoe complanata.
20 AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.
SYSTEMATIC ACCOINT.
Family SYLLID^.
Sub-faudly Syllide^.
Genus Syllis Savigny.
Syllis closterof.eanchia Schmarda.
Schmarda (1861), p. 72.
Ehlers (1904), p. 19, pi. Ill, figs. 1-4.
Ehlers (1908), p. 45.
Benham (1909), p. 237.
Ehlers (1913), p. 476, pi. XXXI, figs. 1-3 (epitokous phases).
Augener (1913), p. 200, fig. 23. (I have not seen this.)
Fauvel (1919), p. 354.
(Plate 5, figs. 1-2.)
It is interesting to find this species, originally regarded as a Sub-antarctic form,
occurring off Adelie Land, though it has already been recorded from Kaiser Wilhelm
II Land.
Amongst the material I find epitokous phases as well as the atokous. The
species seems somewhat variable, judging from the accounts of Ehlers and Fauvel, and
my own observations, especially in regard to the shape and length of, and the number
of annuli in, the dorsal cirri. I will here refer only to such differences as I have noted,
for on the whole the specimens agree with the previous accounts.
The larger individuals in the present collection, which numbers about a score,
measure from 20-25 mm. in length, with a width of 1 mm.; they contain from 60-100
segments. The breadth of the body is fairly uniform throughout, except for a slight
tapering at each end. There are no markings on the dorsal surface.
The prostomium is not quite in agreement with Ehlers' s figure, for in the
specimens before me it is transversely oval, with the anterior margin produced in the
middle line to form a rounded lobe, which is about half the width of the base of the
prostomium. Ehlers shows the margin to be a continuous curve. The difference is
perhaps due to the state of preservation.
The number of annuli in the cirri has been shown to vary, and Ehlers (1913) has
found that in the youngest stages they are not moniliform ; and that the annulation
increases with age ; but I suggest that the differences observed in various adults may be
in part due to injury to the tips of the appendages.
POLYCH^TA— BENHAM. 21
The median prostomial tentacles in the present specimens have 16amiiili; the
laterals 12 ; the dorsal peristomial cirri present 17-18 ; the ventrals 15 (Ehlers found in
a specimen from the Chatham Islands as many as 21-23 respectively).
The dorsal cirri have a spindle-shape outline, which is characteristic for the
species ; the cirri of the anterior six to eight segments are longer than the rest ; their
length is greater than the breadth of the body here ; the sixth being the longest ; it
has 20 annuli.
The remainder of the dorsal cirri are fairly uniform in length, but not absolutely
so ; though this seems to me due to inequality in contraction.
The length of these cirri over tlie greater part of the body is rather less than the
breadth of the body ; I find 12-13 annuli in most of them. Ehlers gives 8-11, usually
the latter, and in specimens from the Chatham Islands as many as 21. Fauvel gives
10-15 for Red Sea specimens.
I find (fig. 1) that each parapod is supported by 3 or even 4 acicula, which lie
close to one another above the bundle of chaeta\ The end of each aciculum is dilated
just below the blunt tip, which is obliquely truncated and projects from the surface,
(fig. 2). In some individuals, however, there is no dilatation, and the apex is
symmetrically pointed.
The pharynx commences in the 4th chaetigerous segment, as is seen in a specimen
mounted entire in glycerine ; it extends back to the tenth segment, where it enters the
" stomach" (or " ventriculus " ) which occupies segments 11-18; the intestine at first
passes forwards from this point, and then bends backwards. It is from the former
region that the pair of long cylindrical caeca are given off, one of which reaches forwards
into the 14th, the other only as far as the 15th segment.
Epitokous Phases.
A male and a female occur amongst the material gathered at Boat Harboiu: at
3i fathoms.
They measure 12 nun. in length, with a width of 1 mm., and contain about
32 segments. The eyes are large and red. They agree generally with the account
and figmres given by Ehlers.
I note, however, that four eyes are present in both sexes, one pair on the dorsal,
the other pair on the ventral surface. Ehlers figure shows the male to be bUnd.
The prostomial tentacles of the male are longer than in the female, but are not
moniliform in either sex.
The male is entire, and possesses two long moniliform anal cirri, longer than the
dorsal cirri of that region. In the male the long modified chseta conunence in the
third chtct'gerous ssgment. in t'le female in the sej'ond. ' ■ •
Ehlers notes that the spawning time occurs in December and January. These
were gathered in the former month.
22 AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.
Localities . —
Commonwealth Bay, Boat Harbour, 2-4 fathoms. Collected by Dr. A. L.
McLean. Commonwealth Bay, Station C. 15-20 fathoms ; Station D. 15-50
fathoms ; Station 3, 157 fathoms.
Macquarie Island, Rock pools, coll. Mr. Hamilton.
Distribution. — Cape of Good Hope (Schmarda), Angra Pequena, New Zealand,
Chatham Islands, Kais?r Wilhelm II Land (Ehlers), Campbell Island, Antipodes
Islands (Benham), Red Sea (Fauvel*).
Syllis urachycola Ehlers.
Ehlers (1897), p. 38, pi. II, figs. 46, 47.
Gravier (1906), p. 20, pi. II, fig. 17.
Ehlers (1913), p. 477.
Fauvel (1916), p. 427.
(Plate 5, fig. 3.)
Several of this species were obtained, and I may note the form of the acicula,
of which two or three occur in each parapod. They may be colourless or brown, but
have a characteristic extremity. This is a rounded knob quite unlilce those of S.
closterobranchia (fig. 3).
The uppermost chfeta, which is capilliform (" Nadel" of Ehlers), does not make
its appearance till about the 20th foot, and may even be absent from some of the
posterior feet, though whether they are broken or not developed I cannot say.
Locality. —
Macquarie Islands. Scrapings off kelp.
Distribution. — Magellan, Kerguelen, South Georgia, Kaiser Wilhelm II Land
(Ehlers), Booth Wandel Island (Gravier), Falldand Islands (Fauvel).
Genus Pionosyllis Malmgren.
PiONosYLLis tOMOSA Gravier.
Gravier (1906), p. 15, pi. II, figs. 12, 13.
Gravier (1911), p. 49.
Ehlers ( 1913), p. 473, pi. XXXII, figs. 1-4.
Several fragments of this Antarctic worm, consisting of the head and some
20 chsetigerous segments, were obtained. They measure 25 mm. in length and about
0-5 mm. across. Some are ripe females filled with eggs as far forwards as the
proventriculus, but they present no epitokous modifications.
* It may here bo noted that, Fauvel (1917, p. 193) regards the variety of Si/Uis rlostrruhranchia from the Chatham
{slaiids (Ehlers), a specimen of which he has found on the coast of South Australia, as identical with jS. hyalina Grube,
POLYCH^TA— BENHAM. 23
The freedom of the palps is well seen in those in which the pharynx is protruded,
when they become widely sej^arated, as is shown in Ehlers's figures.
The eyes are not so large as he figures, and I find that the anterior pair are, as
usual, larger than the posterior.
The chaetse of the anterior segments are all alike, but further back the length of
the appendix differs in the upper and lower members of the bundle, but not I think
to so great an e.xtent as is indicated by rrravier's figures.
Locality. —
Commonwealth Bay.
Distribution. — Port Charcot, Port Circoncision (Gravier), Kaiser Wilhelm II Land
(Ehlers).
Genus Trypanosyllis Claparede.
Trypanosyllis oigantea Mdi/tosh.
Syllis gigantea Mcintosh (1885), p. 193, pi. XXX, figs. 1-3; pi. XXXIII,
fig. 4 ; pi. Xa, fig. 10 ; pi. XXXIV A, fig. 7.
Trypanosyllis gigantea Ehlers (1897), p. 35.
Trypanosyllis gigantea Ehlers (1901), p. 85.
Trypanosyllis gigantea Ehlers ( 1908), p. 65.
Trypanosyllis gigantea Ehlers (1912), p. 17.
Trypanosyllis gigantea Ehlers (1913), p. 475, pi. XXXI, figs. 11-16.
Trypanosyllis gigantea Gravier (1911), p. 52, pi. I, figs. 7, 8.
Trypanostjllis gigantea Fauvel (1917), p. 200, gives further synonymy.
This characteristic Antarctic Syllid is evidently very abundant in Commonwealth
Bay, for there are at least twenty individuals in the collection obtained from five stations
or perhaps from four, as one of the lots consisting of as many as fourteen specimens is
accompa^iedby no information as to where they were obtained.
Some of the specimens attain to a greater size than even those described by
Mcintosh, which reached only the length of 60 mm. The largest complete individual
in the present collection measures 130 mm., with a diameter of 5 mm. over the body,
and 6 mm. across the parapodia. The width of the body is equal to the length of twelve
segments, which are thus very short. The body is very much depressed, its height
being only 2 mm. Mcintosh gives a figure of a transverse section through the pharyngeal
region, where the height of the body is increased by the presence of that organ ; the
worm is in reality much flatter than that figure would indicate.
The colour of the preserved specimens is a pale yellow, dorsally and ventrally,
becoming brownish anteriorly. One individual is orange brown ventrally, with a
yellowish dorsum, and with brown niarkings along the margins of this surface.
24 AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.
The tentacles are white; the dorsal cirri are alternately plain white, and white
ringed with purplish brown. In some specimens these white cirri are more closely
coiled than the others, and lie close to the body forming a fringe, as it were, along its
margin. The purple-ringed cirri, however, are more loosely coiled, and they rise above
the level of the former, over the back of the worm. The two series of cirri are thus
very readily distinguished. All the cirri, like the tentacles, are moniliform.
Ehlers (1897) .states that when alive, the colour of the worms from South Georgia
were " a beautiful orange, with white belly ;" those from Magellan Strait were rosy-
red, with dark brownish-red cirri ; or pale flesh-colom-ed, with cirri of the same tint;
or dark brown. The former plan of colouration seems to agree with those from
Commonwealth Bay. He also notes (1911) that in February and March the species
develop swimming bristles, so that presumably they become sexually mature at this
period.
Localities . —
Commonwealth Bay, Station D, 45-50 fathoms,
Station 1 , 350-400 fathoms,
Station 2, 318 fathoms.
Station 12, 110 fathoms,
*Distnhution. — Kerguelen (Mcintosh), South Georgia, Magellan Strait, Juau
Fernandez, Kaiser Wilhelm II Land, South Victoria Land (Ehlers),
Marguerite Bay, Terre Alexandre (Gravier).
Sub-family Exogone.^.
Genus Exogone Oersted.
EXOGONE ANOMALOCH^TA Sf. nOV.
(Plate 5, figs. 11-13.)
Several small worms, measuring about 6 mm. in length, with about 36 segments,
agree pretty closely with E. heterosetosa Mcintosh, so that it is unnecessary to give a
detailed account of them. Nevertheless, there are two differences from that species
which render it necessary to establish a new one.
The tentacles spring close to the anterior margin of the prostomium, and in this
respect differs from the above species. (See Ehlers, 1897, pi. Ill, fig. 61.) They are
unequal in size ; the median is spindle-shaped, shorter than the length of the postomium;
the laterals are ovate and shorter than the median.
The peristomium bears a short ovate cirrus, and just above it a nuchal organ,
such as Gravier figures for E. turqueti (1906, pi. I, fig. 3). The huge palps are longer
than the prostomium. The anal cirri are spindle-shaped, and equal in length the anal
segment.
* If Fauvel is correct in identifying the species with Syllis tieniceformis Haswell, and with T. rkhariii Gravier, the
further localities must be added — Australia, North and South Atlantic, Red Sea, Persian Gulf.
POLYCH^TA— BENHAM. 25
The parapodia spring from near the anterior boundary of the segments, are short,
and contain but few chsetaj — about 6 in the anterior and 4 in the posterior feet.
There are three kinds of chaets- (fig. 13) — (a) the uppermost simple capilliform,
swollen at the end with a symmetrical but fine point ( this is the " aciculum " of Mcintosh) ;
{b) the uppermost gomphotrich, which differs from that found in E. lieterosetosa, as will
be described below ; and (c) some fom- or five smaller gomphotrichs. These have an
enlarged end to the shaft and articulated deep dowm at one side is the short bidentate
appendix. They are similar to those in E. lieterosetosa, but have a more swollen cup.
The lowest chsetae have this somewhat less enlarged than the upper ones, but the
difference between them is not very marked.
The uppermost gomphotrich is not " spathulate" at its extremity. It consists
of a slender shaft, which is much expanded at its extremity to form a large cup, which
when seen from the side is quadrate. Three of its sides or edges are smooth, and in the
re-entering angle between two of these the appendix is articulated, the fourth side
forming the real free end of the shaft is finely but sharply denticulate, and its face is
striated. The appendix is rather long, curved, and bidentate.
When seen in the other plane — that is, from the front — ^the swollen end of the
shaft is oval, and the free tip of the appendix projects beyond. It has somewhat the
appearance of Ehlers's figure of the chseta of E. lieterosetosa (1897, pi. Ill, fig. 65), if a
line were di'awn between the pointed tip and the oval portion ; but there are no con-
centric lines here in the present species. The previous authors, Mcintosh, Ehlers.
Gravier, have stated that this particular cheeta is " simple" and " spathulate." But
in a recent paper Fauvel (1919, p. 356) states that it is really a gomphotrich, i.. that it
bears a long and delicate appendix (" arete") which, being easily broken off, gives the
appearance of being simple. But, even so, the form of the cha^ta in the worms before me
differ so much from the figures that I cannot correlate the two, hence the new species.
It differs from E. clavator Ehlers, in the absence of the cha^tiie with very long
appendices that occur in the upper part of the bundle, as well as in other characters;
and from E. turqueti Gravier, also in the form of the chsetie.
The dorsal cirrus is ovate and shorter than the chsetigerous lobe ; the ventral
cirrus is longer, pointed, and extends beyond the lobe.
The pharynx is lined with a dark-brown cuticle and extends through the peris-
tomium and three following segments to enter the barrel-shaped proventriculus, which
occupies 2^ segments. This leads into a sub-globular region occupying the rest of the
7th segment, and then follows the intestine.
Locality. —
Commonwealth Bay and Macquarie Island.
Amongst some material sorted out by Professor Haswell he noted some individuals
bearing young ones, which he kindly forwarded to me. The young ones are carried ou
each side of the ventral surface just below the ventral cirri. They form a double series
of 8 or 9 on each side of the segments 12-20.
•S3892— D
26 AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.
Each young one consists of head and 4 chsetigerous segments, followed by one
segnient with a parapod, but without chsetae, and the anal segment carries a pair of
long cirri.
Owing to the position of the mother, I am unable to see the characteristic gom-
photrich, but as the specimens come from the same locality T have little doubt that it
is this species.
Genus Sph^rosyllis Malmgren.
Sph.erosyllis McIntoshi Ehlers.
Salvatoria kerguelensis Mcintosh (1885), p. 188, pi. XXX, fig. 4 ; pi. XXXIII,
fig. 1 ; pi. XV A, figs. 11, 12.
Sfhcerosyllis mcintoshi Ehlers (1897), p. 46.
SpJmrosyllis mcintoshi Ehlers (1913), p. 481.
(Plate 1, figs. 4-6.)
Ehlers has laready shown that Salvatoria of Mcintosh is in reality a Syllid
belonging to Malmgren's genus. Mcintosh, although he j^laced the worm amongst the
Hesionidse, recognised in the course of his account that in several features it approached
the Syllidse.
In the present collection I find specimens of this small worm amongst those taken
in Boat Harbour during the month of .lune, 1912, in 3-4 fathoms of water.
They are only 3-4 mm. in length with 28-33 segnxents. The tentacles and the
dorsal cirri have swollen bases and narrowed tips, but are not so short and stumpy as
in the typical SphcBrosyllis . The rounded prostomium (figs. 4, 5) carries three tentacles,
two pairs of eyes, and a pair of palps ; the last are fused and project beyond the
prostomium. Ventrally this region is deeply furrowed in the median line indicating
the double nature of this organ. Mcintosh, it will be remembered, denied the existence
of the palps ; but his specimens were soft and ill-preserved.
He was, I think, in error too in stating that the filamentous tapering extremity of
tentacle and cirrus is " distinctly segmented," for in my specimens, ^ diich are well
preserved, there is no indication of this, though there are a few quite irregularly disposed
constrictions along this region, when the animal is mounted in glycerine.
I have thought it well to give a careful drawing of the head (fig. 4) as Mcintosh's
figure, the only one as far as I know that has been published, is misleading.
The peristomial cirri are short. The following segments carry long parapods,
each with a single bundle of chsetse, a dorsal cirrus, and a short cylindrical ventral cirrus
which extends beyond the chsetigerous lobe.
The chsetigerous lobe is supported by two acicula, each of which is swollen just
below the point (fig. 6). Below these are 8-10 chsetse, the uppermost of which is
capilliform, as Mcintosh has noted, while the rest are gomphotrichs of the form shown
in his figure.
POLYC'HiETA— BENHAM. 27
The anal segment carries a pair of cirri similar to the dorsal cirri.
The extent of the pharynx and the proventriculus (or stomach) agrees with that
shown in his figure.
T received some specimens from Dr. Haswell in which eggs were attached to the
parapods.
Ehlers has described the epitokous phase.
Locality. —
Boat Harbour, Commonwealth Bay, 3-4 fathoms.
Distribution. — Kerguelen (Mcintosh), South Georgia, Kaiser Wilhelm II Land
(Ehlers).
Sub -family Autolyte.i:.
Genus Autolytus Grube.
AuTOLYTUs CHARCOT! Gravier.
Gravier (1906), p. 7, pi. I, figs. 1, 2.
(Plate 5, figs. 7-10.)
Of this species, both the atokous and the epitokous phases of both sex are
represented ; the latter have not hitherto been described.
Atokous phase.
Of the seven specimens of the atokous phase in the collection, some were still
within thin transparent membranous tubes ; of which one measures 30 mm. in length
and 4 nim. in diameter. The tubes were attached to one another, side by side, forming
a small mass; and to one was attached a portion of a colony of a Hydrozoon.
The contained animal is complete and measures 26 mm. in length, with a breadth
of 3 mm. at about ird of its length, whence it tapers slightly l>oth anteriorly and
posteriorly ; it contains 70 segments. The body is flattened dorso-ventrally and has
height of 2 mm. (fig. 7). Another individual, from Boat Harbour, was free from its
tube ; is 18 mm. in length and 1-5 nun. across the body, which is built up of 68 segments
or more, the last few being very small. Smaller worms were also present, one of which
with a length of 6 mm. was stained and mounted entire. It is still within its thin tube
and came from the same station in Commonwealth Bay as that first mentioned.
Gravier had only two specimens, one of which was entire, and is smaller than
some of those before me.
The worms are pale-brown in colour with a transverse bar of somewhat darker
tint across each segment, the width of the bars being rather greater than the pale .space
separating them. As Gravier has noted, this banding is more marked towards the
middle of the body length.
The first mentioned worm is full of eggs, though the body is not yet differentiated
into regions ; there are none of the characteristic long slender bristles that indicate the
epitokous phase.
28 AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.
Passing backwards from the prostoniium are two conspicuous white broad ridges,
the " epaulettes " or " ailerons," which cross over the peristomium and two following
segments'just 'above the bases of the dorsal cirri and end at the hinder margin of the third
segment. Each of these structures is grooved along its upper surface, and its inner
margin is thickened, rounded, and opaque white ; they show well against the pigmented
surface of the dorsal surface. Though so consj)icuous in the worm viewed by reflected
light, they are scarcely visible in a stained specimen niounted in Canada balsam.
The peristomial dorsal cirri are about as long as the prostomial tentacles. The
ventral cirri of this segment are short. On the next two segments the dorsal cirri are
longer still, though their exact length is difficult to estimate as they are coiled.
The dorsal cirri are cylindrical, smooth, and though presenting irregular con-
strictions here and there, are not truly moniliform; each is marked by a streak of
brown pigment along its external and internal faces.
On the ventral surface there is, on each side, a series of segmentally arranged
great oval glandular pads such as Mcintosh describes for his Autolytus maclearanus.
I suggest that these glands are responsible for the membranous tube in which the worm
lives.
The anterior dorsal cirri are as long as the width of the body, but decreases in
length posteriorly, so that in the mid-body, their length is about half this width, and
they become still shorter further back.
The form of the parapod (fig. 7), and the arrangement of the cluBtte are as Gravier
has described, though the ventral glandular pad is more definitely constricted off from
the body on the ventral surface than his figure indicates. The parapod is supported by
a couple of acicula lying close together side by side ; and carries, besides the bundle of
compound chsetse, one or two capilliforms ; it is, however, only exceptionally that one
can detect them owing to their fragility.
The cup of the " gomphotrich " or compound chaeta (fig. 8), is characteristically
striated on one side, the appendix is, as usual, short with two unequal teeth, of which the
distal is slenderer than the other ; the latter presents slight differences according to its
position in the bundle ; in the lower chaetse it is sharply pointed as is the distal tooth ;
whereas in the upper ones it is usually bluntly rounded as if subject to wear. The form
of the appendix does not quite agree with the figure given by Gravier (p. 8, fig. 1), as I
find that there are no serrations below the teeth. It seems also to be somewhat broader
in proportion to the length than is shown by that figure.
The pharynx, which Gravier was unable to study, extends back to the end of the
7th segment, where it bends forwards on itself, then turns back to enter the " stomach "
(or proventriculus), which occupies apparently segments 10-14 as seen in a specimen
that I dissected ; but in a mounted specimen of smaller size, this stomach occupies
segments 7-10. Whether this difference is due to age or to a disarrangement during
dissection I cannot say.
POLYCHiETA— BENHAM. 29
Remarks. — From these suutherii seas, four species of Autolytus have been recorded — •
A. maclearanns Mcintosh, A. gibber Ehlers, A. simplex Ehlers; in addition to
Gravier's species. But the last is the only one in which tlie " ailerons "
are developed, as Ehlers has pointed out (1913).
Epitokous phases.
A considerable number, some 3-4 dozen, of male and female epitokous stages were
collected on the surface at Boat Harbour. They are described by Dr. McLean as being
"' reddish in coloiu"." In the preserved state some are deep brown, others pale brown,
and others again almost white ; they all agree in their structure though it may be that
the darker ones are older than the rest*.
The brown ones are of deeper tint on the ventral than on the dorsal surface,
which suggests that the worms swim on their backs at this time. Naturallv they vary
in length, the majority being from 12-18 mm. In each case I have chosen for description
one of the largest specimens.
Sacconereis.
The majority of the females have lost the ventral egg-sac, though this is still
present in one that was mounted, where it lies behind the 1.5th cha^tigerous segment.
A complete large individual, measuring 38 mm. in length with a breadth of 5 mm.,
consists of a " head "' with 14 unmodified segments, plus 40 segments with longer
parapods, each carrying a bundle of long capilliform notopodial bristles ; this region is
followed by 30 umnodified posterior segments.
The head in this phase undergoes little modification ; there are no additional
prostomial appendages ; but the eyes are enlarged, specially those of the anterior pair
which have become thrust down to the under surface.
The ailerons are distinct.
The dorsal surface of the body is marked by intersegmental bands of yellowish
brown pigment which encroach more or less on to the surface of the segments. The
dorsal cirri retain the colouration of the atokous phase, brown with a white line along
each face.
Polybostrichus.
In the male, the prostonuum is white, but the appendages are more or less deeply
tinted. The tentacles are brown on the anterior or ventral faces, and white dorsally ;
the frontal tentacles, like the " bifurcated appendages," are deep browm ; the dorsal
cirri are paler dorsally than ventrally.
A complete individual, measuring 32 mm. in length, consists of a " head " with
14 unmodified chaetigerous segments, followed by 45 segments with long capilliform
bristles, behind which are again some 20 unmodified segments.
* When placed in water previous to being stained in alum-carmine the pigment is dissolved, and the water becomes
colonred an orange-brown,
30 AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.
The transversely extended prostomium (figs. 9-10) bears the usual large eyes,
arranged as in the Sacconereis. Springing from the upper surface near the hinder
border is the long median tentacle, which is about 5 mm. in length. The lateral
tentacles are noticeably larger, being about twice the thickness of the median and of
greater length. That region of the prostomium from which they arise has apparently
been pressed backwards and downwards, so that the peristomial cirri appear, in dorsal
view, to be in front of them. Below the base of these long lateral tentacles is a large
swollen subspherical mass overhanging the chsetigerous lobe of the second segment.
It is upon this mass that the lateral tentacles stand.
From the anterior margin, between the eyes, the club-shaped " frontal tentacles "
arise, and below them the " bifurcated appendages" (which according to Malaquin
represent the united palps and lateral-anterior tentacles, a view that Ehlers does not
accept). I prefer to use the above term so as to avoid any morphological controversy.
These " bifurcated appendages " consist of a thick basal region which divides into two
branches, one shorter and thicker and fleshy; the other longer and slenderer. The
former appears to be a continuation of the Ijasal region (than which it is rather longer),
and so to constitute the main axis ; the latter branch is borne on the under and outer
face of the fleshy portion; it is about grd the length of the median tentacles, but as both
are coiled, it is difficult to give j recise measurements.
These organs spring from the prostomium below the frontal tentacles at a level
of a line drawn across between the dorsal and ventral pairs of eyes : their bases touch
ventrally. Their position on what appears to be the morphological dorsal surface of
the prostomium seems to negative the view that they are palps unless their origin has
shifted upwards, as that of the lateral tentacles has shifted downwards.
Both the basal region of the appendage and the thicker branch are n arked by
a series of granular rings from which spring hairs, some of which in a mounted specimen
are curved. Presumably they are sensory hairs. Unfortunately they are invisible in
Canada balsam mounts, though clearly seen in glycerine preparations.
The ailerons or epaulettes are present, extending across the bases of the large
tentacles and, as in the atokous phase, reach to the hinder end of the third segment.
In some specimens, but not in all, there is a linear white ridge jiassing backwards
from the prostomium in the middle line over the first six or seven segments. I noticed
it both in large and small individuals, in dark and in pale ones, while in others it is not
present. I failed to detect it in the Sacconereis. Although visible in reflected light
it is not to be seen iji any of the mounted sjjecimens. Has this low linear ridge anything
to do with the " birnformig Hocker,"" which Ehlers describes and figures for this
Pterautohjtus (1907, p. 8). This is a small pear-shaped upstanding structure on the
mid-dorsal line of the 2nd segment. On p. 10, he compares it with certain " occipital
Hocker " which occur in some other syllids, such as Syllis notocera Ehlers and Autolytus
gibber Ehlers; in the latter, however, it is merely a broad round-edged lobe overhanging
POLYCH^TA— BENHAM. 31
the back of the prostomium. I have failed to find anything like this linear longitudinal
ridge in any Syllids figured by Ehlers, Gravier, or other authors.
On the ventral surface, the prostomium is notched on its hinder margin and the
borders are deeply pigmented. The anterior segments of the body are provided with
large ventral glandular pads as in the atokous phase ; and in the pale-coloured reddish
individuals, these are very conspicuous owing to their opaque whiteness.
Locality of Atokous forms. —
Boat Harbour, surface 3^ fathoms (three specimens); and Commonwealth
Bay, 25 fathoms (four).
Locality of Epitokous phases. — -
Boat Harbour '' taken in hand-net at the surface," on 8, VII, 12 ; 7, IX,
12 and 14, IX, 12.
Distribution. — Port Charcot (Gravier).
Family APHEODITID^.
Sub -family Aphrodi tin^ .
Genus L^tmonice Kinherg,
L^TMONicE PRODUCTA Gnibe.
Grube (1877), p. 512.
Mcintosh (1885), p. 39, pi. VI, figs. 1, 2; pi. IV a, figs. 1-8.
Ehlers (1908), p. 40.
Ehlers (1913), p. 438.
Gravier (1911), p. 80.
Moore (1903), p. 420; and various other authors.
Seventeen individuals of tliis handsome annelid were obtained. It has been
so fully described by Mcintosh that nothing more need be said of it here.
Localities. —
Station 3, 157 fathoms (one).
Station 11, 358 fathoms (one).
And fifteen specimens without any data.
Distribution. — Kerguelen (Grube, Mcintosh), Heard Island (IMcIntosh), Kaiser
Wilhelm II Land (Ehlers), Graham's Land (Gravier), Japan (Moore).
L. PRODUCTA var. henthaliana Mcintosh.
Mcintosh ( 1885), p. 45, pi. VIII, figs. 4, 5 ; pi. IV a, fig. 12 ; pi. V a, figs. 1, 2.
Moore (1903), p. 420.
A single individual was obtained by Professor Flynn off Maria Island at a
depth of 1,300 fathoms.
3^ AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.
This is an instance of the wide distribution of animals living at great depths
for it has been recorded from the Antarctic to the coast of Ja^Dan.
It has been met with by the " Challenger " at the following jilaces :— Between
Prince Edward IsL.nd and Kerguelen, at a depth of 1,600 fathoms. Midway between
Australia and the Antarctic, at 1,950 fathoms. Also in the North Pacific (lat. 35° 41'
N., long. 157° 42' E.) at 2,300 fathon.s, and (lat. 35° 22' N., long. 169° 63' E.) at a depth
of 2,900 fathoms. While Moore records the variety from the coast of Japan at 3,774
fathoms.
Sub -family Polynoin^.
Genus Enipo Malmgren.
Enipo rhombigera Elders.
47, pi. TV, figs. 1-12.
Ehlers (1908),
P-
47,
Ehlers (1912),
P-
13.
Ehlers (1913),
P-
449,
Gravier(1911)
'P-
81.
Of this very distinctly patterned species, which is confined to the Antarctic
region, as many as forty-two specimens were gathered by the " Aurora " from eight
stations and from one unnamed locality.
The plan of .colouration is sufficiently described and illustrated by coloured
figures by Ehlers, and some other variations of pattern are mentioned by Gravie.-.
I have only to add that in one specimen, which measured 100 mm., the dorsum is very
darkly coloured. The violet median band, with its rhomboidal outgrowths, is nearly
continuous on the elytriferous segments ; with a streak of dark brown along the hinder
half of the segment ; while in the cirriferous segments, where the median band is
not produced outwards, there are two parallel cross-bars of brown, extending inwards
from the cirrophore, one in front, the other behind it, nearly meeting the median
pigmenled band.
The greatest length of any of my specimens is 100 mni., though others have
been previously described tliat exceed this.
The figure of the head given by Ehlers is not quite satisfactory, since the median
tentaculophore is so drawn as to suggest that it bore the tentacle (which is niissing,
as it usually is) on its upper surface, which would be a very unusual position in the
family. As a matter of fact, however, it is the fault of the artist, for I find that the
tentacle is inserted at the anterior extremity of the tentaculophore as usual.
Localities . — -
Commonwealth Bay, Station D, 45-50 fathoms (two).
Station E, 55-60 fathoms (four).
Station 1, 350-400 fathoms (nine).
POLYCH.^TA— BENHAM. 33
Station 2, 318 fathoms (five).
Station 3, 157 fathoms (three).
Station 8, 120 fathoms (ten).
Station 10, 325 fathoms (two).
Station 12, 110 fathoms (four).
Distribution.— 8 o\\1:h Victoria Land, Bouvet Island, Kaiser Wilhelm II Land,
(Ehlers), Graham's Land, Alexander Land (Gravier).
Genus Hololepidella Willey.
HOLOLEPIDELLA FLYXXI Sp. HOV.
(Plate 5, figs. 14-20).
The species is founded on four slender worms collected oE Maria Island, Tasmania,
by Professor T. T. Flynn. The pale grey dorsum is covered by white and nearly
opaque elytra, which occur almost over the entire length of the body.
The largest individual is about 40 mm. in length and contains 63 segments.
Its greatest breadth is in the region of segments 5-13, where it measures 4 mm. over
the body; 5-5 mm. across the parapods ; and 7-5 mm. including the chastse. From
this point the body begins to taper so that at the 26th segment the breadth is only
2-5 mm., while at the 40th it is but 2 mm. The length of the parapods does not sensibly
decrease till quite close to the hinder end.
The total number of elytra is rather difficult to decide, as the majority have
fallen away; but by counting the elytrophores I find that there are at least 26 pairs.
In a small individual, which measures 27 mm., with 61 segments, 18 pairs of elytra
are in position, the last being on segment 41. but there are elytrophores posterior
to this.
I find, as did Willey, that it is by no means easy to distinguish elytrophores
from cirrophores. from which the cirri have fallen away, both are nearly in the same
Ime, close to the margin of the body; but by comparing the four specimens and
especially after the examination of one that was stained and mounted, which
lacks, however, the last 2-3 segments, one can fairly readily distinguish the two
stnictures.
In this species the elytra are arranged as follows :^The first 12 are on the usual
segments, that is (counting the peristomium as 1st) on the segments 2, 4, 5, 7-21, 23;
the next sLx elytra appear to be regularly on every third segment — 26, 29, 32, 35, 38, 41.
It is hereafter that irregularity creeps in, but in all the four individuals I find
el}i;ra or elytrophores on the next segment, 42nd ; in two instances they occur on
the next two segments, that is, on three consecutive segments. Further back they
are either on alternate segments or with gaps of two or three segments at intervals;
or on consecutive segments. The arrangement is not symmetrical, so that no general
statement covers their position ; no formula can be given for these posterior elytra.
• S3S92— E
u
AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.
Willey (1905, p. 251) found a similar irregularity in H. commensalis. I place
the facts in tabular form for reference : —
Posterior elytra of right side carried
bv
Number of
Elytron
the segments in each of the four
specimens.
A.
B.
C.
D.
19
42
42
42
42
20
45
46
43
43
21
46
48
44
44
22
47
51
46
23
49
48
24
50
50
25
55
54
26
56
58
27
57
A is the stained and mounted specimen.
In B, only 22 pairs of elytra were present, the remainder of the f)S
segments being cirriferous.
C is soft, and it is impossible to distinguish the elytrophores from the
cirrophores.
The elytra, except the first which is circular, are oval with the longer axis oblique
to that of the body ; and in the better preserved specimens they overlap from side to
side. The " areola " is near the external margin, the surface is smooth, and there is
no marginal fringe.
The prostomium (fig. 14) is colourless, broader than long ; the eyes are large,
the posterior pair far back, latero-dorsal in position, with a large lens ; the anterior
pair are lateral, with the lens directed forwards ; these are situated at the broadest
part of the prostomium, which is rather in front of the the middle of its length.
The prostomium is produced into distinct " peaks," immediately above the base
of the lateral tentacles. The tentacles are smooth, tapering to a point ; the median
is about twice the length of the laterals and longer than the palp. The laterals are
about I rds the length of the palp.
The parapods (fig. 15, 16) are short, and distinctly divided Into two nearly
equal lobes. The notopod, of less height than the neuropod, is like it produced into
a long and slender aciculum-containing process. The dorsal cirrophore overhangs
the chsetigerous lobe ; the cirrus is smooth, tapering, very long and easily broken o£E.
The notopod contains only about 8-10 short yellow straight and stout chaetae
with extremely fine transverse lines which appear to represent the " pectinated " frills
of other genera, and these lines in older bristles are often worn away (fig. 20).
POLYCH^TA-BENHAM. 35
The ventral chseta; (fig. 17-19) are about twenty-four in number; each is,
shaped like a spear head, the frilled region is short and marked by many very
fine closelv-set pectinated frills which take an undulating course across the bristle,
and are visible along both edges. The chaetse are not all alike, some being more
slender and having a longer frilled region than others. The frills commence at some
distance from the tip, which is curved and carries a short sub-apical tooth.
I have placed this species in Willey's genus, which is defined as follows : — ■
" A polynoid; antennae arising at a lower level than the tentaculum impar, segments
and elvtra numerous." It does not fit into any other genus, though it is remarkable
that the two species should occur in such wddely separated localities, the type species
living on the shores of Ceylon.
Locality.- —
Of? Maria Island, Tasmania, 1,300 fathoms.
' Genus Physalidonotus Ehlers.
Physalidonotus rugosus Benham.
Benham (1915), p. 182, pi. XXXVIII, figs. 16-22 ; pi. XXXIX, figs. 23-25.
Two individuals were obtained in the neighbourhood of the spot at which the
type was taken.
Locality. — Off Maria Island, Tasmania, 65 fathoms.
Distribution. — Bass Strait, coast of Victoria.
Genus Harmothoe Kinberg sensu-lato.
Harmothoe .'-pinosa Kinberg.
H. spinosa Kinberg (1855), p. 386.
H. spinosa Kinberg (1857), p. 21, pi. VI, fig. 31.
Polynoefidlo Grube (1877), p. 515.
P. vesiculosa Grube (1877), p. 514.
Lagisca antarctica Mcintosh (1885), p. 80, pi. XIII, fig. 1 ; pi. XVI, fig. 3 ;
pi. XVIII, fig. 1 ; pi. VIA, figs. 10-11.
L. magellanica Mcintosh (1885), p. 82, and the varieties of this species.
H. spinosa Ehlers (1897), p. 12.
H. spinosa Willey (1902), p. 264, pi. XLI, figs. 1-4 ; pi. XL! 11, figs. 1, 2, 4-8.
H. spinosa Ehlers (1908). p. 43.
H. spinosa Ehlers (1912), p. 10, pi. I, fig. 8.
H. spinosa Ehlers (1913), p. 438, pL XXVI, figs. 1-12.
H. spinosa Gravier (1906), p. 33.
H. spinosa Gravier (1911), p. 88, pi. V, figs. 54-.59 ; pi. VI, figs. 64-69.
H. spinosa Fauvel (1916), p. 421, pi. VIII, figs. 8-9 (chfefce).
H. spinosa Fauvel (1917), p. 179, pi. Vf, figs. 47-48 (head).
(Plate fig. 21.)
36 AUSTRALASIAN AMTAECTIC EXPEDITION.
Ehlers gives some coloured pictures of this common Antarctic Polynoid, in his
account of the National Antarctic Expedition, and of its varieties, in the report of the
German South Polar Expedition, above referred to.
In the " Challenger " report, Mcintosh figures the head and the chsetaj of
the species and varieties as distinguished by him ; and Wdley represents the general
appearance of the aninial and the characteristic tubercles on the elytra.
For a fidl list of the synonmy and literature consult P]hlers (1913).
The species is evidently extremely abiindant in Commonwealth Bay, as 169
individuals are included in the collection, obtained from depths varying from 2 to 400
fathoms, and it probably lives along the shore also, as Ehlers has noted its abundance
along shore at all seasons of the year at Kaiser Wilhelm II. Land.
It is, as is well known, extraordinarily variable in colouration, and Ehlers has
figured several of the more usual tvpes.
I find large as well as small individuals in which the elytra are colourless, so
that the worm has a greyish appearance, though the more typical colour is some tone
of brown, usually a chestnut, with or without a purplish tinge.
In some the elytra are uniformly tinted; in others the pigment is in definite
patches, which are either small and scattered irregularly over the surface, or arranged
in definite lines parallel to the long axis of the worm ; in still others the patches are
so closely crowded together that they produce a nearly uniform darker tone.
In most cases the " areola," that is the area above the attachment of the elytron
to its elytropore, is without pigment. In some individuals a reddish-purple spot or
even a violet spot lies behind this areola ; or, again, this is reinforced by an additional
purple splash near the posterior external border ; this spot may occur both in pale and
in darkly pigmented elytra.
The upper surface of the elytra is often iridescent, and so adds to the beauty of
the worm, giving as it does a bluish tinge to the brown in certain parts of the elytron,
according to the angle at which light is reflected from it.
Further, the body wall is pigmented in various ways, and in various tints inde-
pendently of the colour of the elytra. In some specimens the dorsum is almost without
pigment, but it is usually crossed by narrow bars of brown or olive, which are confined
to the median region of the back. Very frequently there is a tesselated, or chess-board
pattern of brown or of olive-green, or of both colours combined, giving a beautiful
eflect (fig. 21). In such cases the pigment is in the form of quadrate patches on each
side of the middle line on alternate segments, the median line being white ; and in the
intervening segments, the sides are pale and transverse bars of pigment cross the
middle line.
But the most remarkable variant is found in the largest individuals, where the
entire dorsum is a uniform steel-blue or indigo-blue, or purple (as in Ehlers's fig. 1, 1913),
with the bases of the parapods white or pale pinkj or of a rather deeper lilac colour.
POLYCH^TA— BENHAM. 37
In one case the belly is nearly as deeply pigmented blue as the dorsum; but
this is very exceptional, as the ventral surface is generally without pigm.ent.
There seems to be no very definite correlation between the colom-ation and the
depth at which the worms were found, for in sorting out the specimens from the jars
in which they reached me, I rather naturally separated out those in which the colours
were strikingly dift'erent, under the impression that I had to deal with distinct species.
Thus, in one lot from 25 fathoms, I find fom- different plans of colouration or, as I sup-
posed, four different species.
Nevertheless, after talnilating the worms under their colours and their depths,
it seems tha<' there is a rough correlation between them. Thus, in shallow water,
from the shore line down to 60 fathoms, the general tone of colour of the elytra is darker
and variegated in brown, while the dorsum is without pigment, or has pale trans-
verse lines of brown. The elytra, too, are more firmly attached to the elytrophores
than in other cases.
But in those worms that come from greater depths, say, 110-400 fathoms, the
elytra are paler and more uniformly coloured, and may even be colourless and trans-
lucent; and they are readily deciduous. On the other hand, the dorsum is now
pigmented more deeply or more extensively, and it is from these depths that the
handsome dark blue and violet worms were obtained. But this applies only to the
larger specimens.
The smaller worms are apparently less afiected by depth ; or it may be that
the change in the amount of pigment is a measure of age, for in a general way the smaller
individuals are deeply colouretl, while the larger ones, above 60 mm. in length, have
pale or colom'less elytra, with a more deeply pigmented dorsum. The smaller worms,
from 10-30 nun. are generally found in less deep water than those from 40-90 mm.
The texture and ornamentation also of the elytra present considerable range of
variation, for in some the surface appears under a lens to be smooth, whereas in the
more typical forms there is a row of pale conical tubercles along the posterior border,
as shown in Willey's figm-e 2, pi. XLI. These are usually better developed on the
elytra from the hinder region of the body, while the more anterior ones may be without
them. Again the entire surface may be covered with small cones, visible under a lens,
and giving them a rough appearance to the naked eye. The marginal fringe may be
present or absent.
The prostomium is usually white, whether the dorsum of the body is pigmented
or not, but in one case at least, it is marked transversely by a narrow band of brownish
pigment (as in var. lagiscoides, as figured by Gravier (1911), pi. VI, fig. 64). The
peristomial cirri, anal cirri, and dorsal cirri are browmish.
In spite of these variations in colour there are two features in the distribiition
of pigment that appear to be constant, namely :— (1) the dark greyish-blue tint on the
38 AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.
upper lip of the mouth, and especially along its median line, on the ridge which extends
upwards to the anterior margin of the prostomium ; and (2) the elongated lips of th?
notopodial and neuropodial lobes are coloured dark brown or pm-plish brown.
These two features I found very useful in distinguishing readily the species from
H. tuberosa.
As to the chsetee. The latest drawings are those of Fauvel (1916, pi. VIII, figs.
8, 9). He shows the dorsal cha-ta as having a row of stout spines along one edge,
each spine being apparently the enlarged marginal tooth of one of the pectinated frills.
My own observations do not bear out this interpretation ; the frills certainly project
a good deal beyond the edge, and the appearance produced is of rather stout spines,
but I interpret this as being due merely to the fact that two or more of the pectinations
are here seen one over the other, producing indistinct thickening of the frill. I do not
find definite spines here, nor do other authors.
In the ventral chsetse, however, there are in the distal frills definite spines which
are shown by Willey (pi. XLIII, fig. 2).
In this paper ( 1902) Willey distinguishes " three principal allotypic modifi-
cations " of the species, one of which he retains as a distinct species, and refers it to
Mcintosh's Lagisca crossetensis. The other two are described as varieties of H. spinosa,
namely, " var. typica " and " vav. fullo,'' with a sub-variety '' lagiscoideo." The two
latter varieties are characterised by, among other things, the presence of long conical
tubercles or spines on the elytra; the last variety by the fact that the himbuost seg-
ments are not cervered by the elytra.
Gravier (1911) describes in detail examples of the two varieties, " fi/pica " and
" lagiscoides," and mentions that the latter has the elytra more deeply pigmented than
the former.
I have, as already noted, a very large series of the species— but I have failed to
find any in which the hinder segments are thus exposed. It is true that I have not
been able to give the time to sorting out of this series into groups or varieties, and the
range of variation in several characters is very considerable, as Ehlers has shown, yet
both in large and small specimens, in those with dull and in those with bright colouration
the elytra cover the whole body. It must, however, be noted that in many cases the
elytra had fallen away ; but I find, as Gravier did, that none of those examined with
this purpose possess as many as forty segments, the number given by Willey for this
particular individual. Is it possible that he had under observation some other
species ?
Localities. —
Boat Harbour —
2-4 fathoms, coll. by Dr. A. ].. McLean (fourteen).
3| fathoms, coll. by Dr. A. L. McLean (twenty-one).
4^ fathoms, coll. by Dr. A. L. McLean (three).
POLYCH^TA— BENHAM. 39
Commonwealth Bay —
Station B, 25 fathoms (sixty-five).
Station C, 15-20 fathoms (fom'teeu).
Station D, 45-50 fathoms (twelve).
Station E, 55-60 fathoms (eleven).
Station 1, 340-400 fathoms (nine).
Station 3, 157 fathoms (one).
Station 8, 120 fathoms (five).
Station 10, 325 fathoms (two).
Station 12, 110 fathoms (twelve).
Distnbutian.—Mage\\a,n Strait {Kinhevg, CTiube, Mcintosh), Marion Island, Prince
Edward Island (Mcintosh), Cape Adare (Willey), Coulman Island, Kaiser
Wilhelm II Land (Ehlers), Graham's Land (Gravier), Falkland Islands,
St. Vincent Gulf and Spencer Gulf, South Australia (Fauvel).*
One of the specimens from Station C has a parasitic Copepod attached between
two of the parpaodia, as figured by Willey (pi. XLl, fig. 4).
Harmothoe tuberosa Elders.
Harmothor spinosa, variety Ehlers (1908), p. 43.
Harmothoe tuberosa EUevs (1912), p. 11, pi. I, figs. 1-7.
(Plate 6, figs. 22-29.)
The account given by Ehlers, apart from one or two details, is adequate. The
coloured figure represents a much redder tint than is exhibited by any in the present
collection, where the worms are grayer, sometimes paler, sometimes darker, sometimes
with a purplish tone, sometimes bluish, and usually with a metallic lustre.
It does not appear to attain the dimensions oiH .spinosa, for the largest individual
measures only 50 mm., with a diameter over the elytra of 15 mm. The body itself,
measured on the ventral surface at segments 7-18, is 7 mm. across : thence it tapers
gradually, so that at the 26th segment its breadth is 5 mm.
The species is apparently much rarer than H. spinosa, for thougJi it occurred
in eight hauls, which yielded twenty-six individuals, and except at a depth of 25 fathoms
(Station B), only one or two were obtained in a haul. It is apparently commoner at
the less depths, for at this Station B as many as fifteen specimens were brought up
by the dredge.
'■ Fauvel mentions a specimen as occurring aa a commensal in a tube of Thelepus ip.
40 AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.
It occurs in each case in company with H. spinosa, but in much less numbers.
For example, whereas at 15-20 fathoms fourteen specimens oiH. spinosa were obtained,
there was only one of H. tuberosa ; at 25 fathoms, in contrast with sixty-five specimens
of the former, there were only fifteen of the latter. Although Ehlers originally
regarded it as a variety of H. spinosa, since it seems nearly always to occur in
association with it, yet in his later work he pointed out that it is a very distinct species.
There are one or two features which readily serve to distinguish it at sight from
H. spinosa: (1) The dorsal chgetge, instead of projecting outwards, have a radiating
arrangement, as is shown by Ehlers's figure ; (2) The absence of pigmentation of the
upper lip and of the ends of the parapodial lobes (" acicular processes ") which is practi-
cally universal in H. spinosa.
The dorsal surface of the body is free from pigment, so far as my observations
go, but the lateral longitudinal ridges along the ventral surface are crossed by bars
of brown, and the posterior feet may be pigmented on their lower faces. The ventral
surface thus appears dark.
Ehlers has directed attention to the peculiar transverse " pads " which occupy
the median line of the dorsal surface in each segment, and the " cushions " on the
cirriferous segments in line with the elytrophores, the cirrophores being situated far out
on the bases of the parapodia. Both these structures occur also in the genus
Physalidonotus, which Ehlers founded for a Branchiate Polynoid from New Zealand,
in which the head, however, is " lepidonoton." Having had several species of this genus
under examination recently, it occurred to nae that possibly there might be gills here
also, but on investigation I find tluit they are absent.
The dorsal chpetse are " bearded " in the same sort of way as are those of
Physalidonotus. It is evident that Ehlers had before hina and has figured a much-worn
chseta, and that he failed to recognise the true nature of this " bearding," for he
writes, " ich mag nicht entscheiden, ob diese Faden durch Aufsplitterung des
Borstenendes entstanden oder epiphytische Bildungen sind."
To me neither of these explanations of the appearance presented by the chsetse is
the correct one. These long " Faden " are similar to those originally figured by Moore
(1903) for certain species, which he named Lepidonotus brancJdferus and L.chitoniformis
(pp. 405, 409, pi. XXIII, figs. 7 and 10), which really belong to the genus Physalidonotus.
More recently I have figured the chtetse for P. rugosus and P. paucibranchiatus (Benham
1915, pL XXIX).
A more detailed account of the dorsal chsetse oiH . tuberosa is, therefore, desirable.
In a perfect unworn chseta the tip is smooth and rather bluntly pointed. Below this
smooth region there come three or four pectinated frills* which are produced into long
* Tills term was used by A. G. Bourne in liis account of the chsetse of Lep. claim. (Trans. Linn. Soc. London., vol. ii,
1S83.)
POLYCH.^TA— BEXHAM. 4l
delicate hairs, extending beyond the tip. surrounding it and more or less concealing it.
Similar but less developed frills follow and occur along the greater part of the chsetse
(fig. 22).
When .studied under a higher power the ch;eta appears to be triangular or possibly
quadrangular in section (figs. 23, 24). Along two edges are ranged two series of spines
or teeth, which decrease in size as they are traced downiwards proximally. Each pair
of teeth is connected across the " front " of the chaeta by a finely-striated membrane
or pectinated frill, the margin of which is comblike, as if it were made up of many very
delicate chitinous hairs closely set side by side. In the more distal of these combs the
hairs gradually increase in length, and beco ne flexible until the long hairs that form
the " beard " are produced. Similar but less developed frills extend outwards beyond
the teeth, down the " sides "' of the cheetse, but in the proximal portion this lateral frill
is replaced by a series of minute conical teeth (fig. 24). The sphies or teeth are evidently
merely specialisations of the comb-teeth.
The shorter upper chfeta? of the bundle have simple frills, but as the cha?ta! get
longer the fo\u' or five of the distal frills become produced into the long hairs. There
is quite a gradual transition between the cha-ta? with simple frills and those with well-
developed '' beards."'
These " Ijeards," as Ehlers notes, entangle mud and debris, so that it is not
always possible to obtain a good view of the apex and to make out the real structure,
but in some of my mounts, both in Canada balsam and glycerine jelly, the apices are
fortunately free of mud and the structure is quite apparent.
The ventral cha'ta?, too, are worthy of closer description than Ehlers has given
them. They are c_[uite different from those of H . spinosa, as he has sho\\m.
Each presents two parallel series of short stout teeth or .spines along the concave
edge, four or five in a series in the case of the longer chaeta?, but reduced to three in the
smaller ones (figs. 25-27). The more distal spines in each series are simple and tooth-
like, but lower dowm each is seen to be surrounded at its l)ase by a pectinated frill, or,
^ower. still, to be replaced by a frill whose edge, under a low power, has the appearance
of a tooth (fig. 27). These upper frills have quite a limited extent, but below them
come foirr to six closely-set small frills of very short pectinations which run right across
the chaeta from side to side.
The elytra on two of the individuals studied present marked variation from the
tj'pical structure. In addition to the characteristic sub-marginal papillas, the elytra bear
conical and vesicular tubercles of brown coloiu*. On the anterior el}i;ra they are compara-
tively small, lying on the uncovered posterior region of the scale, but on the more pos-
teriorly situated elytra the tubercles become more conspicuous. They are here larger,
though less numerous, till, on the last six or seven, they are truly enormous vesicles (fig.
28). Whereas the tenth eUiiron carries some half dozen of these vesicles, the fom-teenth
bears but one (fig. 29). These vesicles appear to be much enlarged and dilated tubercles
derived from the ordinary eohinulate tubercles characteristic of the species.
42 AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.
Just as there is a variety of H . spinosa {Lagisca antarctica or L. vesiculosa), so
here we have a variety of H. tuberosa, differentiated by the great size of the tubercles ;
but here they are conical, rather than spherical, and recall those figured by Kinberg
for H. patagonica (1857, pi. V, fig. 22 H).
Localities . —
Boat Harbour-, winter quarters, Station A, 3| fathoms (one individual).
Station B, 25 fathoms (fifteen).
Station C, Commonwealth Bay, 15-20 fathoms (one).
Station D, 45-50 fathoms (one).
Station E, 55-60 fathoms (two).
Station 1, 350-400 fathoms (one).
Station 3, 157 fathoms (one).
Station 8, 120 fathoms (two).
Distribution . — S. Victoria Land: Bouvet Island (Elilers).
Harmothoe abyssorum Mcintosh.
Eunoa abyssorum Mcintosh (1885), p. 73, pi. XI A, figs. 14-16.
(Plate 6, figs. 30-35.)
Three specimens of this species were ol)tained, and as tlie type was dried up, so
that Mcintosh was unable to say nxuch about its anatomy, an opportunity occurs of
adding to that brief account.
The largest of them is 29 mm. long, with 35 segments, but is imperfect. It is
broadest at about segments 7-12, thence tapering. Here it measures 5 mm. across
the body, 10 mm. over the parapods, and 12.5 mm., including the chsetse. At segment
20 these numbers are 3 mm., 6 mm., and 9 mm. respectively, so it is clear that only
a few segments are missing.
Tlie ventral surface of the body is purplish, darker posteriorly, and the pigment
extends on to the feet, where, however, it becomes fainter. The dorsum is devoid of
pigment.
There iie fifteen pairs of elytra, whicli are present on one of the smaller
individuals. ;hey are colourless, translucent, and rather thick, but towards the
external marg.n they become slightly yellowish and opaque. They are smooth not
only to the naked eye, but even microscopically, except that over the outer area there
are numerous minute, rounded refringent tul^ercles, which seem to be the cause of the
yellowness here (fig. 33).
The proston^ium (fig. 30) is l)road, with well-developed peaks on the outer side
of the bases of the lateral tentacles; both pairs of eyes are on the dorsal surface, and
lie behind the middle of its length. The two eves of one side are thus close together,
POLYCH.^TA— BENHAM. 43
being separated from one another by aliout the diameter of an eye. They are hirge,
and herein there seems to be a difference from the type, of whicli Mcintosh says tliat
it " appears devoid of eyes."
The median tentacle is absent from Itoth sj^ecimens. The hxterals spring from
below it (fig. 31), and are directed parallel with it, not divergently as in some species.
They are tapering without any siibterminal swelling : they bear a few microscopic
hairs. In length they are short, being not quite twice the length of the prostomium.
The palps are long, smooth, and of a greyish-brown colour.
The parapods are bilobed ( tig. 32). The notopod has a long acicular process whicli
is more slender than that of the ueurojiod. The anterior feet are longer than the posterior.
The cheetse are pale yellow or, as Mcintosh terms them, " straw-coloured."' The dorsal
cheetae are more numerous than the ventral, being 15-20 in number. They form an
upwardly directed tuft of shorter, stout aiwl straight bristles, and a few in the lower part
of the bundle are longer and directed outwards. The pectinated frills (fig. 34) nearly
surroimd the axis. At any rate, they extend across it over the greater part of this
region ; the distal portion of the bristle is smooth and rather sharply pointed.
The ventral cha^tse are few in number, from 5-8, usually 6. They appear to be
in a single vertical series, decreasing in length from above downwards. They are rather
stouter than the largest of lower ones in the notopod. but they are a good deal longer.
Tlie frilled region (tig. 35) is rather short, and is somewhat enlarged. The frills
are few, some 12-14, and delicate ; the distal frills are not continuous, but each is
represented by two or three isolated groups of pectinations, and lower down these extend
till they meet and form a contirmous frill of fine short, hair-like processes, which takes
an irregular course across the bristle and reaches the convex border or "'back." The
smooth apex is curved, and there is no sign of a sub-apical tooth.
The form of the cha'ta' agrees with the figures given by Mcintosh, though I have
added some little details.
Localities. —
Station 10, 325 fathoms (two).
Station 11, 358 fathoms (one).
Distribution. — South of Australia, Lat. 42" 43' South, Long. 134^ 10' East, 1,(300
fathoms.
Genus Eulagisca Mcintosh.
EULAGISCA CORRIENTIS Mclntosk.
Mcintosh (1885), p. 91, pi. XIII, fig. 4 ; pi. V!I a, figs. 3, 4.
(Plates 6 and 7, figs. 36-42.)
The larger of the two specimens of this rare worm is 83 mm. in length, with a
diameter of 11 mm. over the body, and 23 mm. over the parapods. It contains 37
segments. The smaller consists of 33 segments, is only 20 mm. by 3 mm. over the body
and 8 mm. including the parapods, which are relatively long.
44 AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.
Judging from McTiitosir.s remarks, a >stnu-tiire that seems characteristic is a sub-
tentacular frontal cone, which he refers to as a " sulj-tentacular cirrus " though this
term does not seem altogether applicable to such a short conical process. This " frontal
cone " is situated between the bases of the palps immediately below the median tentacle
(fig. 37). It is quite distinct and separate from the ridge which forms part of the upper
lip, and appears to spring from the underside of the prostomium itself. When the
median tentacle is absent, as it is in one of the two individuals, this frontal cone is seen
projecting beyond the tentaculophore (fig. 36). It is white with a brown base.
Mcintosh refers to this " reinarkable " organ as bei]Tg " unicpie " (p. 93), and in this
place does not refer to any other species except some of the AcoetinsB as presenting
anything like it. Nevertheless on p. 112, in the course of his account of Polynoe platy-
cirrus he does mention that a small cylindrical boss occurs in the same position. I have
examined a specimen of this species and can confirm this statement, but it has a spherical
shape and is by no means so noticeable as in Eidagisca. The use of the word " unique "
seems to suggest that it is one of the generic characters of Eulagisca, especially as he
gives no diagnosis of this or any of the new genera and sub-genera he had occasion to
establish. I do not recall meeting with any reference to such a structure in more recent
works dealing with the Polynoids ; yet it is a &tiucture that is so definite that it may have
a wider range and be of value in differentiating some of the species of that puzzling group.
The ventral surface of the worm is colourless, the ch^tse are pale brown. The
dorsum is marked with very-pale chestnut brown in the median anterior region, and
darker on the peristomium. At about Jrd of the body length, this continuous band of
pigment breaks up into a series of irregular j)atches which get fainter and smaller till
about the last quarter, when they die out.
The prostomium is colouiless, though in one specimen it has a crescentic mark
of dark brown across each half, which is lacking in the other specimen. There is a
small patch of dark-brown on the upper surface of each of the crrriferous segments just
within the cirrophore, and in the elytriferous segments a corresponding patch. The
dorsal cirri have a ring of very pale brown below the sid)terminal swelling. The anus
is surrounded by a dark-brown area.
The prostomium is broader than long, has no peaks, and the three tentacles arise
in one plane ; the anterior region of each half is continued into the tentaculophore,
though in the smaller individual, which is less well-preserved than the larger, each half
of the prostomium appears to be produced into an internally directed peak ; but this is
due to the oblique line sej^arating it from the lateral tentaculophore.
The eyes are relatively large, and each is provided with a lens ; the anterior are
situated laterally about half-way along the prostomial lobe at its broadest part ; the
posterior eyes are dorsal, about half-way between the anterior eye and the hinder
margin, though they appear further back in the less well-preserved individual. The
hinder mar<.';m of the prostomium is over-hung by a forward continuation of the peris-
tomium.
POLYCH^TA— BENHAM. 45
In the smaller individual all the prostomial appendages are present, but they
are absent in the larger. The median tentacle is about twice the length of the laterals;
they are colourless, even translucent, with an opaqiie white sub-terminal swelling. The
tentacidophores are dark-brown, as also are the peristomial cirrophores. The palps
are very long, twice the length of the median tentacle : while the peristomial cirri are
as long as, or even longer than, the median tentacle.
Although these appendages appear smooth to the naked eye, they are in reality
ciliate. Mcintosh states that the cilia are numerous in his specimens, but I find them
comparatively few and far apart.
The parapods (fig. 39) are not very prominent, the notopod smaller than the
neuropod, and each has a long narrow acicular process, that of the neuropod reaching
further outwards, but actually the two are of equal length.
The aciculum is colom'less, very delicate, and produced into a fine point which
projects beyond the tip of the process in which it lies. The dorsal cheetaj (fig. 40) are
8-10 in number, stouter than the ventrals, the upper ones curved, the lower straight.
The apex is short and sharply pointed, being slightly concave on one side. The whole
chaeta is crossed by pectinated frills which only extend for about half-way across the
axis.
The ventral chsetse (figs. 41-42) are long, very fine, and somewhat flexible; they
have a very long frilled region consisting of about 30-40 frills, and a comparatively
long delicate and simple apex. The upper ventrals are nearly straight ; the apex long
and very fine ; the rest have a curved apex rather hooked, but there is no sign of a sub-
terminal tooth.
I note an opacity near the apex of the dorsal cluBtas to which Mcintosh refers.
The ventrals differ from his figure in the much greater length of the point.
The elytra are 15 pairs, though most of them are lacking in the specimens. The
two anterior elytra on each side are thin and splashed with dark sienna broAvn ; the
first one is sub-circular, the second oval (fig. 38). This has a nearly central " areola "
with a patch of brown pigment on its outer edge ; there are three large, broad, round-
tipped conical tuliercles near the external margin, and springing from the surface of the
scale between them, but nearer to the margin, are a few long, fine, cylindi'ical hair-like
papill;?. The concealed portion of the elytron bears numerous small, rounded, low,
and highly refringent tubercles, on'}' visible under a high magnification. There is no
fringe.
Locality. —
Station 8, 120 fathouLS (one).
No data (the larger of the two).
Distribution. — Between Kerguelen and Heard Islands ; also Buenos Ayres
(Mcintosh).
46 AUSTRALASIAN ANTAECTIC EXPEDITION.
Remarks. — The " Challenger " obtained only two specimens, one complete and one
incomplete and it has not been recorded since. The name Eulagisca seems
to me to be unfortunate, as the head is so entirely different from that charac-
teristic for the genus Lagisca. Mcintosh ^vrites : " The bristles are allied
to those of Lagisca, while the eyes, scales, ventral papillae diverge. The
subtentacular cirrus is unique and is akin to the proboscidian process of
Accetidse."
Genus Hermadion Kinberg.
Hermadion rouchi Gravier.
Gravier (1911), p. 82, pi. Ill, figs. 33, 34; pi. IV, figs. 45-51; pi. VII,
fig. 74.
Harmothoc crosetensis Ehlers (1913), p. 442, pi. XXVII, figs. 1-4 (nee Lagisca croseten-
sis Mcintosh).*
(Plate 7, figs. 43-47.)
Of the ten specimens which I attribute to the species, two, measuring 18 mm.
with 27 segments, and 22 mm. with 38, are closely similar to Ehlers coloured figure
(fig. 1) of the worm to which he applies the name " Harmoth'je crosetensis McI." That
is, the elytra are alternately darker and very pale — in the case of his specimens, gray
in colour, in muie, olive-green or olive-brown in the two individuals respectively. The
dorsal cha3ta3 are golden, long, and overarch the dorsum and even inter-digitate with
those of the other side. In these and practically all other details of structure my
specimens agree with the account given by Ehlers. But these features — especially
the great length and the position of the dorsal cheetse — do not agree with the description
and figures of Lagisca crosetensis given by IMcIntosh, whose figure of the entire worm
shows, on the contrary, quite short chajtas, not overarching the dorsum in the slightest
degree.
Moreover, Ehlers states that the ventral chtetae are not l)identate which is a
characteristically developed feature of L. crosetensis ; indeed the only feature in which
the worm agrees with that of Mcintosh is that the elytra bear sharply-conical tubercles.
At first I was content to accept the identification by the most experienced
European student of exotic Annelids, till I came to examine another lot of worms of
larger size than the two above mentioned ; these are without pigment and agree in all
essential features with Gravier's account of Hermadim, rouchi.
I then returned to these smaller specimens of what I had thought were Harmothoe
crosetensis, and after a careful comparison of organ with organ of the two lots, I found
that they presented such a close agreement as to amount to identity, so that I came to
the conclusion that the smaller coloured individuals are the young of Hermadion rouchi.
* Whether the species briefly described by Willey ( 1902, p. 266) belongs to Mcintosh's species or to Gravier's I am
unable to decide, but the sketch (pi. xliii, fig. 3) of the tip of the ventral chseta incUnes me to think that he had H. rouchi
before him, as it differs from the figure given by Mcintosh for his species and seems to have stout spines on the first frill ;
but the figure is rather indistinct in this respect.
POLYCH^TA— BENHAM. 4?
In order to establish tlie above conclusion, I will give the measurements of the
worms.
A. — The small worms, with coloured elytra. — -
(1) Nearly complete, with green elytra ; IS mm. in length, with 28 segments;
width at the 7- 12th segment is 4 mm. over the body, measured ventralUy;
6 mm. over the neuropod, and 9 mm. over the chsetse. The dorsum is
marked with dark-green narrow transverse bars at the sides and with a
thin green line on each segment, crossing from side to side. No informa-
tion as to the locality.
(2) Is similarly coloui'ed, though with l)ro\\m ; the posterior end, after the
28th segment, is regenerated, with 9-10 minute segments. The length
is 22 mm. for these 38 segments. This individual is rather soft ; the
dorsal chaetae do not meet their fellows, though they overarch the back.
(Station 12.)
B. — Uncoloured individuals, i.e., the elytra are without pigment. —
(3) Length, 23-5 mm. with 39 segments ; width 7 mm. over neuropods. (From
Station 10.)
(4) About the same size, though imperfect. Quite similar to number 3.
No data as to locality.
The remainder were taken together at Station 1. —
(5) 28 nim. with 41 segments with 7 segments exposed behind the elytra.
(6) 32 mm. for 42 segments.
(7) 40 mm. with 44 segments.
(8) 51 mm. with 45 segments, last 10 segments uncovered.
(9) Imperfect, but intermediate in size.
(10) The largest is 81 mm. with 46 segments, of which the last 13 are uncovered.
We have here a gradual uicrease in length with segments added at the hinder
end ; and there seems no doubt that, since all agree in their structural details, we are
dealing with a single species at different ages. Variation in colour now is so well known,
as for instance in H. spiuosa, that little reliance can be given or placed on that as a
specific character.
I may add that the largest of the three specimens contained in the French collec-
tion measured only 42 mm. with 42 segments, while the two smaller ones were about
24 mm. in length. Gravier states that in his specimens the dorsum is unpigmcV'-ed,
but in each segment there are two narrow cross-bars of dark violet ; he also notes that
pigmentation is less marked in the larger than in the two others.
It will be well to give in some detail some facts about the specimens from Common-
wealth Bav.
48 AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.
The largest individual is 81 mm. long ; the width of the body measured ventrally
in the region of segments 12-18, is 12 mm. ; it is 19 mm. over the neuropods ; and
28 mm. including the ventral chtetae. The number of segments is 46. The elytra are
uncoloured ; the dorsal body wall is without pigment, l)eing flesh-coloured, except for a
band of pale violet on the tentacles and cirri below the subterminal swelling, and a
small violet or brownish patch on the anterior face of the dorsal cirrophores.
In the smaller coloured specimens, the tips of the acicular processes are also
violet.
The species has, as Gravier remarks, a quite characteristic appearance, owing to
the very long, straight dorsal chsetae of beautiful golden colour which radiate in all
directions from the upper surface of the large notopods, some of which overarch the
elytra.
The anterior elytra, as well as those at the posterior end of the series, overlap
right and left, but in the middle region of the body, they leave the dorsum exposed, while
some dozen segments lie behind the last elytra.
The account given by Gravier fits the present specimens so completely that it is
only necessary to note one point in which they appear to differ from those described by
him.
Of the dorsal cha?t8e, Gravier states that the majority exhibit no ornamentation,
though some of the lower ones of a bundle are traversed by a few cross-markings, and
present indications of marginal denticulations (see his pi. IV, fig. 48).
Elders, in his figure (pi. XXVII, fig. 4) shows a series of pectinated frills
crossing the chsetse from side to side. I agree with him, though his figure shows
them rather too widely separated from one another and is so drawn as to imply that
they have a spii'al course.
I find that in the younger individuals there is a fairly long smooth apex with a
blunt point (figs. 43, 44, 45), which in some of the older specimens, especially in the
chajtse in the uppermost part of the bundle, is frequently worn away, so that there is no
smooth region and the tip is almost truncated. Below this smooth region there follows
a series of about 30 closely set transverse pectinated frills which nearly encircle the
chseta ; each consists of minute teeth, and the frilled region occupies about half the
length of the exposed portion of the chseta, or even more in the shorter bristles of the
lower part of the bundle.
While speaking of these dorsal chtette, I may refer to a point on which I must
differ from Ehlers. In those smaller individuals which so closely resemble the specimens
described by him as H. crosetensis in all other respects, I find none of the long slender
hair-like bristles which he describes and figures as occurring in some of his specimens.
On p. 443, he describes the notopod as bearing in addition to and intermingling with the
stout yellow chsetae " sehr langen und haar-feinen Borsten," which project over the
POLYCH.^TA-BENHAM. 49
dorsum and may even interdigitate with those of tlie opposite side (pi. XXYII, fig. 3).
He says further (p. 444) that although tliey are not present in all individuals, he has
found them in both small and large specimens, and he suggests that their presence may
bear some relation to sexual maturity. I have examined several parapods taken from
both large and small specimens with the especial object of finding these fine capillary
bristles. Occasionally some of the eha^tte may be seen edgewise and so appear thinner
than when seen on the flat surface, and frills are then seen to project from both edges
giving an appearance somewhat like Ehlers's figure. But I do not find such dift'erence
in length as he found. Gravier does not mention their occurrence in his specimens,
and on the presumption that we are dealing with the same species, this is the only
feature in which ours really differ from those examined by Ehlers. I may add that
Mcintosh does not mention such bristles in his account of L. crosetensis.
So far, then, as the present specimens are concerned, all the dorsal chsetae are
alike in structure, though they differ in length ; those in the lower part of the bundle
being about half the length of those in the upper part.
The same difference in size exists amongst the ventral chtetse. The ventral
chsetse (figs. 46, 47) which in L. crosetensis, Mcintosh states are " not furnished with
long spines, and have a distinct sub-apical tooth;" have in the present case, as Gravier
has figured (pi. IV, fig. 49) certain pronounced spines or teeth amongst the upper frills,
which are absent in the lower frills. In some chsetse two such spines occur on one side
and one on the other; in other cases, two on each side. The frilled region is long,
consisting of about 20 frills which are discontinuous in the distal region, but become
continuous over the greater part. Ehlers says little about the ventral chaetaj, except
to state that the apex is simple. Why then should he refer it to the species L. crose-
tensis I
However, in Hermadion rmichi, although most of the ventrals have a simple apex,
with no sign of a sub-apical tooth, there is occasionally a sub-apical " step,"' which seems
to indicate a tooth that has been worn away. And Gravier states that in some of his
specimens he found a tooth.
More than one zoologist has in recent years commented upon the difficulty of
distinguishing between the two genera, Lagisca Malmgren and Hermadion Kinberg, as
well as upon the question of the distinction between them and the genus Harmotho:'
Kinberg. Most WTiters accept the last genus in an extended sense as including several
of Malmgren's sub-genera, though Professor Mcintosh still retains most of the latter;
and in his splendid monograph of the British Annelids, published by the Ray Society,
these names are even used as generic.
I need not discuss this matter further as Baron de St. Joseph (1888, p. 150) has
given the history of these names. It was Willey (1902), I believe, who first drew
attention to the resemblance between Lcujisca and Hermadion. And Fauvel (1916)
has recently summarised the main points in the controversy raised by him and also
discussed by Gravier (1911). Fauvel concludes (p. 426) that Hermadion is distinguish-
50 AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.
able from Lagisca by the absence of the prostomial frontal lobes or " peaks ;" the dorsal
chaeta? are generally smooth or very feebly striated ; the ventrals unidentate in even in
the young. Therefore, he believes that to unite the two genera would be premature.
But is the statement of differences altogether correct ? For Ehlers describes the
presence of these " peaks " to two species, Hermadion amhiguum and H . molluscum
(1897, p. 16); they are present in H. rouchi. It is true that these peaks are absent in
the type species, H. magalhaensis Kinberg, as well as in his H . lomjicirratum and in
H. kergudensis Mcintosh (1885), which according to Fauvel are synonymous. On the
other hand, although typically present in Lagisca, they may jje absent (see L. jeffreysii
Mcintosh, for instance). It seems as if there ought to be a great deal of shifting of these
species from one genus to the other, if we accept Fauvel's dictum.
As to the dorsal chaette, it appears that in young stages of H . rouchi, at any rate,
as well as in other species, the dorsal chajtse do have striations, that is fine pectinated
frills or combs, whereas in the older chaetse, the longer ones, they are less distinctly
marked. It may be that this is due to wearing away of the frills owing to use. And a
similar explanation may perhaps be given of the absence of a sub-apical tooth in the
ventral chsetae. For although this is generally absent, yet it does occur in the shorter
younger chsetse, or in others its place is taken by a " step," in this position.
It appears then that the distinctions between the two genera Lagisca and Herma-
dion do not exist. They are identical.
A further question has been raised as to whether or not there is any real distinction
between the genera Hermadion and Har,i oth ic. If we review the various oligomeric
forms, it appears that Harmothoe has its dorsum entirely covered by the elytra ; that
none of the posterior segments remain uncovered, or at most only two or three. Whereas
in Hermadion, several, up to a dozen or more, are exposed in large forms. It is true
that Willey has ascribed to Harmothoe sfinosa an individual which he regards as a
variety and calls " lagiscoides ," partly because of the conical tubercles on the elytra,
and this one individual has 6 naked segments at the hinder end. But more information
Is needed to convince me that the individual is a variety of Harmotho? spinosa.
Yet, because of this variety, Willey proposed an addition to the generic diagnosis
of Harmoth e, which would eliminate the only remaining constant difference between
it and Hermadion, and so comes to the conclusion that all thi'ee genera are synonymous.
For the present, I am of opinion that it would be well to retain the distinction
between Harmothoe and Hermadion.
Localities . —
Commonwealth Bay, Station 1, 350-400 fathoms (six, colourless).
Station 10, 325 fathoms (one juvenile, colom-less).
Station 12, 110 fathoms (one juvenile, coloured).
No data (one coloured and one uncoloured, juvenile).
Distribution. — Marguerite Bay, ile Adelaide (Clravier), Kaiser Wilhelm II Land
(Ehlers).
POLYGHiETA— BENHAM. 5C
Family PHYLLODOCIDiE.
Sub-family Phyllodocin^.
Genus Phyllodoce Savigny.
Phyllodoce madeirensis Langerhans.
Langerhans (1880), p. 307, pi. XVII, fig. 44.
Willey (1902), p. 270, pi. XLII, fig. 5 ; pi. XLIV, fig. 7.
Elilers(1897), p. 2.3.
EMers(1901), p. 72.
Ehlers(1913), p. 453.
Four individuals of this widely distributed species were obtained in dredgings
in 25-120 fathoms. These are larger than the type, which only reached a length of
70 mm., with 105 segments, and than those described from the Antarctic by Willey.
The present specimens attain a length of 190 mm., with nearly 300 segments. The
greatest width of the body is 2-5 mm. to 3 mm., and over the parapods 6 mm., and does
not vary much throughout the length.
The colom-, which Langerhans found to be green in life, is in the preserved worms
in some cases pale brown, with the dorsal cirri rather darker ; in other individuals pale
grey, which owing to ii-idescence appears silvery, with pink cii-ri— a pale but decided
pink. This one is mature, and contains eggs.
The tentacular cii-ri are arranged, as Willey has described, and as Ehlers has con-
firmed ; the longest reaches to the 10th or 12th segment, the second ventral is about
half this length. Although Langerhans wrongly allocates these cirri in his text, yet
his figm-e seems to show their distribution quite clearly, and is more informative than
Willey's figure.
The pharyngeal papillae have the characteristic arrangement, which is very
evident in one of om- specimens, in which the pharynx is everted.
Localities. —
Station B, 25 fathoms.
Station D, 45-50 fathoms. Distended with eggs.
Station 8, 120 fathoms.
Distribution.— MaQleh-a. (Langerhans), Juan Fernandez, South Georgia, Kaiser
Wilhelm II Land (Ehlers), Cape Adare (Willey).
Remarks. — This is rather a remarkable range, and the much larger dimensions of
these Antarctic specimens raises the question as to the specific identity, which
is mainly upheld by the characteristic arrangement of the pharyngeal papillte.
Another species, P. medipapiUata, described by Moore (1909, p. 237), also has
the median row of 4 or 5 papilla, with six lateral rows on each side, containing
9 in the ventral and 12 in the dorsal rows. This occurs on the coast of Cali-
fornia.
52: AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.
Genus Eulalia Savigny.
EuLALiA CHARCOTi Gmvier.
Gravier (1911), p. 57, pi. I, figs. lJr-16 ; pi. II, figs. 17, 18.
Eulalia charcoti lives in comparatively deep water, our specimens coming from
depths of 110-318 fathoms, and Gravier's from 210 fathoms (approx.).
The preserved specimens have a dark greenish-blue body with brownish-green
cirri ; the body is highly iridescent, and in one individual the effect produced is a bronzy
green colour.
Two of them have a dark blue band along the middle third of the dorsum, with
a green iridescence ; the lateral thirds being russet brown, and the cirri olive green.
The whole effect is very beautiful. Gravier states that in life the worm is " emerald
green with blue iridescence." There is but little to add to his account.
The longest of our specimens measures 150 mm. by 6 mm. across the body,
which is larger than Gravier's largest. The longest of the tentacular cirri, belonging
to the second segment, is 8 mm., and reaches to the 23rd segment, the next one is only
5 mm. long, and reaches to the 15th ; the others are about half the length of the latter.
These measurements are taken from a specimen 95 mm. long, with a diameter of body
5 mm.
The pharynx is everted in one individual, and shows the characteristic arrange-
ment of the papilla^, unusual in the genus, namely, six longitudinal rows of curved
brown-edged papillae, united basally by a broad continuous band of smaller rounded
ones, and distally by a girdle of similar papillae There are about 50 small close-set
papillae at the entrance — an unusually large number.
Localities . —
Station 2, 318 fathoms (one).
Station 3, 157 fathoms (one).
Station 8, 120 fathoms (four).
Station 12, 110 fathoms (one).
Distribution. — Admiralty Bay, South Shetlands, in 420 metres (approx. 210 fathoms),
(Gravier).
Sub-gemis pterocirrus Claparede.
EuLALiA (Pterocirrus ) magalhaensis Kinberg.
Kinberg (1865), p. 241.
Ehlers (1901), p. 73, pi. VIII, figs. 1-8.
Gravier (1906), p. 25.
Ehlers (1912), p. 13.
Gravier (1911), p. 56, pi. I, figs. 12, 13.
Fauvel (1919), p. 364 (gives several synonyms).
POLYCH^TA— BENHAM. 53
An inijierfect individual, consisting of the anterior end of about 65 segments,
appears to belong to this species. It measures 20 nun. in length and 2-5 mm. in
width.
Most of the cii'ri are broken ; the colour is yellowish brown, with dark greenish-
blue patches, more or less extensive, irregular in shape and size, arranged along the
dorsum ; they may be due to post-mortem changes.
Of the tentacular cii'ri only one, on the left side, and two on the right, remain.
But the general agreement of the head, the parapod and the chsette, with the account
given by Ehlers, inclines me to phu'e the worm in this well-known Sub-antarctic species.
Locality . —
Macquarie Island, rock pool.
Distribution (In the Antarctic and Sub-antarctic regions). — Magellan region (Kin-
berg), Fuegia, Chilian coast, Kerguelen, Kaiser Wilhelm 11 Land, Coulman
Island (Ehlers). Biscoe Bay, Petermann (Gravier).
EULALIA (PtEROCIRRUS) HUNTER!*, Sf. ilO'V.
(Plate 7, figs. 48-52.)
The single individual is complete ; it measures 165 mm. in length, by 2-25 mm.
over the body, and 6-5 mm. over the dorsal cirri, which are directed outwards. Anter-
iorly the diameter of the body is but 1 mm.; the greatest breadth is about 20 mm.
from this end, and is retained for rather more than one-half the total length, whence
the body tapers gradually. This breadth of body is equal to 4j segments.
The colour of the body is flesh-pink, with a pair of very dark blue, nearly black,
irregularly quadrate spots on each segment about midway between the mid-dorsal
line and the lateral margin (fig. 48). These spots commence at the 9th segment. In
the hinder quarter of the worm they extend niedially till they meet, so that these
segments are crossed by a series of dark bands.
The dorsal and ventral cirri are yellowish : the ventral surface is of the same
colour as the ground tint of the dorsum. ,
The body is convex dorsally, flat ventrally; the parapods are short, and the
dorsal cirrophore is close to the body. The dorsal cirri are of considerable size, nearly
as long as the body breadth, and are not relatively shorter on the anterior segments.
The prostomium is coloiu-less, its breadth is rather greater than the length
(fig. 49), and a slight notch on the posterior border, and also at the level of the insertion
of the tentacles, gives it a trefoil shape.
* I take this npportunity of associating with this handsome annelid the name of Mr. J. G. Hunter, the able biolopst
of the Expedition.
54 AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.
The eyes are brown : the median tentacle springs from the dorsal surface in front
of the level of the eyes ; it is more slender than the anterior tentacles, and about as long
as the length of the prostomium. The two pairs of anterior tentacles have the usual
position and shape, and are shorter than the median.
The first segment is distinct dorsally, behind the prostomium, and is of the same
width. It bears on each side one comparatively short tentacular cirrus, which has
the same form as the tentacles, but is stouter. The second segment carries two
tentacular cirri on each side, the dorsal of which is sub-cylindrical and long, while the
ventral is shorter, wide and distinctly foliaceous, produced into a short filamentous
point. It is longer than the normal dorsal cirrus, to which, however, it bears a
resemblance.
The third segment bears a long sub-cylincbical dorsal tentacular cirrus, longer
than that of the preceding segment ; below it is the chsetigerous lobe and a small
foliaceous ventral cirrus.
These long tentacular cirri are not, in reality, cuTular in section, but more or
less compressed. The longest of them reaches to the 15th segment ; it is 2-25 mm.
in length. It may be noticed that these anterior segments are shorter than those that
follow, the increase in length being gradual.
The parapods (fig. 50) are short, with the anterior lip longer than the posterior.
The foliaceous dorsal cirrus is broad, as wide as its length, with an asymmetrically
situated apex ; the cirrophore is close to the body wall. The ventral cirrus is oval,
not pointed, about as long as the cha^igerous lobe.
The chteta' (fig. 51). The shaft is a great deal wider than the appendix, and of
a much higher degree of refringeucy, so that at the junction between the two there is a
very niarked transition when viewed under the microscope. The articular cup is
strongly " heterogomph" and, as usual in the family, is very narrow ; one lip is very
short, the other is produced into a long curved claw-like structure, both are smooth,
and present no striations. The appendix is relatively short ; its proximal end is
narrow, but soon acquires its full breadth, and then rather rapidly dwindles, to be
prolonged into a very fine distal portion. It is very thin even in the lower portion,
and is obliquely striated along its whole length ; and its concave edge is faintly but
distinctly denticulate.
The pharynx was exposed by dissection ; the buccal region extends through
25 segments, and the pharynx occupies nine more, t.c, its hinder end reaches to the 42nd.
At its entrance are 16 small conical papilla?. The buccal cavity is lined uniformly
with closely set, round-topped, nearly cylincbical papilla?, slightly narrower at the base
than at the apex, and about 3 times as high as broad (fig. 52). They are practically
of uniform size and shape throughout. In the everted condition the pharynx, there-
fore, would be said to be covered with these papillae.
POLYCH^TA— BENHAM. 55
Locality. —
Commonwealth Bay, Station 12, 110 fatlion^s.
Remarks. — It agrees with Eulalia m(ujalha:nsis Kinberg, in the form of the head
and in the position of the median tentacle ; but differs from it in the arrange-
ment and length of the tentacular cirri, in the shape of the dorsal cirri and
of the parapods, and especially in the form of the chf)eta\ The marked
ungulation of the articular cup recalls that figured by Ehlers (1904, pi. II,
fig. 9), for E. micfOfhjUa Schmarda, from New Zealand, in which, however,
it is much less pronounced, and which differs in other respects of course.
Eulalia (Pterocirrus) mcleani,* sf. nov.
(Plate 7, tigs. 52-57.)
Two specimens in the collection appear to be new. The one studied in detail
measures 45 mm. in length, with 115 segments. The breadth of the body, which is
equal to the length of six segments, is 2-25 mm., and over the parapods 4 mm. The
peristomium is 1-5 mm. across, and the body gradually widens till at about one-cpiarter
of the body length it attains 2-25 mm. in width ; this is retained for about another
quarter, when the body commences to taper.
In the second individual the pharyixx is everted, and the body is a good deal
contracted anteriorly; this contains 120 segments with a small regenerated region.
Its length is 32 mm., its greatest width 4-25 mm.
The colour of the body is a uniform pale brown with a dull greenish-yellow cii-ri,
which when pressed back over the body reach nearly to the middle line. Those of the
anterior segments are not much smaller than the rest, which are practically uniform in
size.
The prostomium (fig. 53) is broader than long, trefoil shaped with a slight notch
posteriorly. The eyes are large, and separated from one another by a space rather
greater than their diameter. The median tentacle arises far back, between the eyes,
and is thus close to the hinder margin ; it is a good deal longer than the prostomium.
The lateral tentacles arise in the usual position ; they have the shape of a long cone,
constricted at the base with the apex produced to a point.
The tentacles and cirri are quite pale, and possibly are yellowish in life.
The first and second segments are distinct dorsally; the longest tentacular cirrus
reaches to the 14th segment, the other three are about half this length. The three upper
cirri are circular in section, but the ventral cirrus of the second segment is flattened
from in front backwards, higher than it is thick, so as to be foliaceous. Its apex is
produced into a longish filament.
quarters.
I wish to associate with this animal the name of Dr. A. L.McLean, who did such useful service in collecting at winter
56 australasjan antarctic expedition.
The parapods (fig. 54) are very short and rather high, the foliaceous dorsal
cirrus is long and narrow ; its length is more than twice its width ; its apex is
symmetrically pointed, its base is short and springs from the chsetigerous lobe close to
the body. The ventral cirrus is comparatively large and of similar shape, longer than
the chaetigerous lobe.
The chastse (figs. 55, 56) are comparatively few in number; the lip of the
articular cup is finely serrated on one side, smooth on the other; and the two lips are
approximately of equal height ; the appendix is long, narrow, straight, flexible and
tapers gradually to a fine point ; its edge is finely serrated.
The pharyngeal apparatus was everted in the larger of the two specimens, though
the buccal membrane or pharyngeal sheath is ruptured at its base. The length of the
pharynx is 15 mm., with a diameter of 3 mm. at its anterior end. The aperture is
surrounded by 24 rather large papilla?, set as usual at the ends of ridges leading into
the interior. The buccal membrane is uniformly covered with closely-set unequal,
flattened, club-shaped papillae, giving it a velvety appearance (fig. 57). They are
much smaller than those of the preceding species.
From a study of the other specimen it appears that the intestine commences at
about the 34th segment, so that the buccal and pharyngeal regions together nuist be
10 mm. in length.
Localiti/. —
Commonwealth Bay, Station 1, 350-400 fathoms.
Remarks. — I suspected that this worm was E. magalhaensis , the only specimen of
the genus hitherto recorded from these latitudes, but from it the present worm
differs in the larger eyes, in the position of the median tentacle : in the much
greater length of the tentacular cirri ; in the form of the appendix, and
in the character of the articular cup ; and in the number and shape of the
pharyngeal papilhie.
Genus Eteone Savigny.
Eteone reyi Gravier.
Gravier (1906), p. 26, pi. HI, figs. 24-26; (1911), p. (iO.
Ehlers(1913), p. 457.
A single individual of this small Phyllococid was found on a slide on which I
had mounted some Syllids collected in Commonwealth Bay.
It is but 5 mm. long, and consists of head, 26 cha?tigerous segments and the
anal segment.
I find that the prostomium differs from Gravier's figure in that it is produced
forwards as a narrower plate than the basal oculiferous region. This I take it is
what Ehlers means when he says that his specimen has a " spatelartig " prostomium.
POLYrHiETA-BENHAM. 57
The absence of any dorsal cirrus above the first chsetigerous lobe serves to
differentiate the species.
The dorsal cirri along the middle and hinder portions of the body are coloured
reddish brown by little spots of pigment, and similar though smaller spots occur in
groups along the back.
Locality. —
Commonwealth Bay. No data.
Distribution. — Port Charcot (Gravier), Kaiser Wilhelm TI Land (Ehlers).
Sub -family Lopadorh ynchin^ .
Genus Pelagobia Greef.
Pelagobia viguieri Gravier.
Gravier (1911), p. 62, pi. II. figs. 22-25.
(Plate 7, figs. 58-60.)
Numerous individuals of this small pelagic worm were obtained in tow-netting
in January, 1914, in depths from 45 to 100 fathoms, when the water was far below
freezing point. One vial is marked " Temp.— 0.5'' C"; another " Partly ice." Mixed
with them was Tomopteris septentyionalts .
The length varies from 5-12 mm.; the head is followed by 21-25 segments,
the larger ones being sexually mature, containing eggs or sperm niorute.
Gravier's account, founded on only tliree specimens, agrees precisely witli the
present worms, but for one apparent omission. He has overlooked the existence in
the long metastomial cirri of a chitinous supporting axis.
He correctly describes the fii-st segment, which innnediately follows the " head,"
as possessing on each side a very long dorsal and ventral cirrus, separated by a smal'
bundle of compound chajtse, such as occur throughout the worm. Each cirrus presents
a swollen base, and has a much thickened cuticle on its posterior face (figs. 59-60).
This cm-us is traversed nearly throughout its length by a delicate chitinous aciculum
or thread of chitin. It starts at the apex of the ciiTus, and just before the swelling is
reached it tapers to a very fine point.
This axial support is so evident in specimens mounted in glycerine, as well as in
balsam, that it is astonishing that no mention of it is made by Gravier.
Locality. —
Commoiiwealth Bay, 45 faths., 50 faths., 100 faths.
Distribution. ~Lat. 69° 15' South : long. 108° 5' West, at a depth of 950 metres.
•83892— H
o8 AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.
Remarks. — Gravier points out certain differences that exist between his species
and P. longicinata Greef. Unfortunately I have not access to Greef's paper,
as the vohune is missing from my series of the Zeit. f. Wiss. Zool. And,
although the species has been recorded from most of the Antarctic expeditions
no details or figures are published that eual)le me to judge of Gravier 's
statements in this respect.
The only figure relating to tlie species, wliich is available to me, is that
given by Southern (1909, pi. I, fig. 1) of the chteta; and his statement on
p. 2, that the appendix of all the chaetse has " on the posterior side a delicate
wing-like expaiLsion." This is certainly not present in the species before me,
and, moreover, the length of the appendix is longer and slenderer than it is
in that figure, and is in entire agreement with Gravier's figure.
Family ALCIOPIDJ*:.
Genus Vanadis Greef.
VaNADIS ANTARCTICA Mclntosjl.
Alciopa antarctk.a, Mcintosh (1885), p. 175, pi. XXVIII; figs. 2-4; pi. XXXII,
fig 12.
Vanadis antarctica, Apstein (1890. p 543 (not seen).
V. antarctica, Willey (1902), p. 271, pi. XLFV', fig. 8: pi. XLVI, figs. 1, 2.
?Alciofa antarctica, Gravier (1911), p. 65, pi. II, fig. 26; pi. Ill, fig. 28, 29;
pi. IV, fig. 38.
y. antarctica, Ehlers (1913), p. 466.
(Plate 8, figs. 61-63.)
My excuse for describing once again this Antarctic species is that Gravier has
thrown doubts on its generic position, and that the previous accounts are imperfect
in some respects.
The material obtained consists of two specimens, a male and a female, which
were captured on the surface of the sea by Dr. A. L. McLean; and some smaller individuals
from 45 fathoms.
Dr. McLean notes that they are " transparent, mottled with brown." The
female is entii-e, measures 135 mm. in length, its greatest breadth is 5 mm., at about
mid-body. There are 93 segments, followed by a short regenerated region, 4 mm. in
length, of very small segments.
The prostomium is 3 mm. across, and the anterior part of the body is very
narrow, only 1-75 mm., the head and this narrow region, or " neck," occupy a length of
11 mm.
POLYCHiETA-^BENHAM. 59
The dorsal surface of the head and neck is pale brown; the rest of the body is of
the same tint, with darker brown markings at the base of each parapod, both above and
below; at irregular intervals along the body this deeper tint extends further over the
surface, both dorsally and ventrally, forming larger and smaller areas, which nearly
meet on the dorsal surface.
The male is imperfect, consisting of head and 56 segments, with a length of
65 mm. As Gravier has pointed out, the glands below the parapods are much better
developed than in the female, and I note a series of segmental white marks along the
median ventral line which are better developed in the hinder part of the fragment than
anteriorly. These are not present in the female.
The anatomy of the worm agrees both with the account given by WUley and
the more complete one by Gravier, except that the latter states that the colour of the
specimens gathered by the French expedition, when alive was " vert jaunatre," and
that the spots were " vert epinard fonce."
There is, however, one impoi-tant difference l^etween these two accounts. WUley
found, contrary to Mcintosh's statement, that the bristles are " articulated," though
he found it difficult to detect the articulations, till the bunch of chaetae was " sp ead
out." Gravier, on the other hand, insists that they are " entu'e," and consequently
expresses doubts as to the identity of Willey's specimens with that described by
Mcintosh aird by himself. He enumerates three points of difference — namely, (1) in
regard to the chaetse; (2) in regard to the absence in Willey's account of any description
of the dorsal surface of the head; and (3), in regard to the papillae at the entrance to the
pharynx.
I will offer remarks on each of these points, and hope to clear up the doubts
expressed by him.
(1) For some time 1 was unable to detect any articulation in the chaetac. I
followed Willey's advice to " spread them out," but failed at first to see any sign of
jomting, even under high power. But chancing to shift the mirror of the microscope
so that the light was no longer fully reflected, I noted an extremely faint and very
oblique line crossing the very delicate and transparent bristles. This " jointing " is so
unlike what one would expect from Willey's figure, the reproduction of which is coarse;
it is so unlike the articulation that occurs, for instance, in Halodora, that it is easily
overlooked. When viewed from the side the articulation, if one may call it so, has the
appearance of a very oblique interruption hi the chaetal substance, which does net
seem to reach the edges in all cases; but most of the appendices have the appearance
of being " spliced " to the shaft, that is, it and the shaft are obliquely cut across
(tig. 62). Occasionally, one finds a chaeta lying in a different plane, and the splicing
appears to be more perfect and definite, where the distal appendix has its base sliced
oft' on both sides to a point, and tliis fits into a Y-shaped cut at the end of the shaft
(fig. 63).
60 AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.
Having once recognised the position of the articulations, one can see a bending
of the bristles, forming an open angle, which might be taken for a mere " bend " till
the existence of the articulation was ascertained.
Even when I had satisfied myself of their existence, I found it very difficult to
detect these articulations in specimens mounted in glycerine jelly, even by the use of
a high power, but it is easy to see them in fresh glycerine. I re-examined specimens
mounted in glycerine, twelve months later, and saw the articulations quite clearly in
every chaeta.
The lengt.h of the appendix is small, compared with the total length of the bristle.
I had some difficulty in estimating what its length is, since the bristle is so long that it
will not lie wholly in the field with an objective 3 and ocular 3 of Leitz, and a lower
magnification is useless. By a fortunate chance a small air Inibble occurred in the
preparation about half way along one of the bristles, so that by making two camera
drawings I was al)le to get practically the entii-e bristle, and was thus able to measure it.
The total length is represented in the drawing by 570 mm., and the appendix by 10 mm.
approximately, for its tip is so fine that under this magnification it is invisible. Roughly,
one may say that the length of the appendix is about -^^ of that of the total (fig. 61).
It may be noted that Mcintosh says that " none of the extremely attenuate tips are
complete." So that there is no real contradiction between his account and that of
Willey. It is probable that all the appendices had dropped off or been broken off in
the specimen, as is the case in many of the chaetse in those before us.
(2) The second point is explained, I think, by the fact that Mcintosh had repre-
sented in his figure the head from the dorsal aspect, and Willey drew attention to the
structure of the ventral aspect, in order to complete the description of the species,
as Mcintosh had not given an accurate figure of this surface.
(3) The third point is, I believe, due to an error in observation by Gravier
himself. Willey states that in the everted pharynx the entrance is surrounded by
twelve soft conical papillse. In the specimen described by Ciravier the pharynx was
not everted; he states that it extends backwards as far as the 20th segment, where
it is bent upon itself. He goes on to say (p. 68) : " Le bord de I'orifice posterieur est
fronc6, mais ne presente pas ni papille definie, ni prolongements digitiformes."
He omits to mention the buccal region. Now, of course, the papilla? being at
the entrance of the pharynx from the buccal region must be looked for, not at the
posterior extremity, but at the anterior extremity of the pharynx when at rest inside
thQ body.
I dissected the male individual and find that the buccal region is very short,
extending to about the 5th or 6th segment, including the peristomium; then follow the
long " trompe tres musculeuse," which reaches to the 20th segment; then it bends
upon itself and reaches forward to the 15th segment, where it enters the thin- walled
intestine. On slitting open this apparatus I find at the anterior extremity of the
pharynx or " trompe " the series of papillae described and figured by Willey.
POLYCHiETA--BENHAM. 61
The weight of evidence, then, appears to be against Gravier's contention that
this species belongs to the genus Alciopa. Mcintosh had already noted the " short
filiform cirrus at the end of the foot." Gravier himself recognises that it " approaches
the genus Var.adis " on this account, and points out that only in the absence of the
prehensile organ at the entrance to the pharynx and in the form of the chaetee does it
differ therefrom. As he himself considers the form of the chaeta as the " dominating "
character of distinction, Apstein's contention and Willey's support of it are surely
justified, aiad the only possibility left is that Gravier is dealing with a different species
from those obtained by the " Challenger," the " Southern Cross," and the " Aurora,"
which, I think, is not probable.
Locality ■ —
Commonwealth Bay, surface, and at 45 faths.
Distribution. — Antarctic Ocean, practically circumpolar (Mcintosh, Ehlers, Gravier,
Willey); Atlantic Ocean, near Ascension (Ehlers); North Pacific and Indian
Oceans (Apstein).
Family TOMOPTERID^.
Genus Tomopteris EscJwholtz.
Hub-genus Tomopteris Rosa.
Tomopteris carpenteri Quatrefages.
Qua^refages (1865), vol. ii. p. 227, pi. XX, figs.l, 2.
? T. carpenteri, Mcintosh ( 1885), p. 531.
(Plate 8', figs. 64-66.)
A very w^ell-preserved, complete individual was obtained in the tow-net by
Dr. McLean in 45 fathoms of water among the pack ice ; and fom- others, less well
preserved, came from 50 fathoms, during January, 1914.
The description applies to the first-named specimen. It is 55 mm. in length,
with a maximum diameter of 13 mm. over the parapods in the mid-body. It is 7 mm.
across the first pair. The total width gradually increases till the middle of the body,
then decreases to the hinder end. The body itself measures 4 mm. across, at about the
middle, but is only 2-25 mm. at the neck, in front of the first parapod. There are 33
pairs of parapods, the last 2 or 3 being very small. The same number occurs in a less
well-preserved specimen, which is only 35 mm. in length by 8 mm. over the feet.
The anterior parapods are short. They gradually increase in length up to the
6th, and this maximuni length is retained till about the 14th, when they decrease.
The worm is opaque in the preserved state (in formaline). The colour is pale
brown with a darker band along the mid-dorsal and mid-ventral lines. In the shorter
specimen there are two areas of deep brown across the ventral surface of the body and
62 AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.
parapods, extending over the anterior third and over the hinder third of the body.
Whether these are post-mortem or not I cannot say. The head and posterior end as
well as the middle third are quite pale.
There is no trace of a " tail."
The prostonrial corniia (fig. 64) are carried on a very short, wide base. The
anterior margin has no median notch, and the frilled membrane is continuous from side
to side. The extremities of the cornua are gently curved backwards, and reach to the
outer ends of the enlarged bases of the long cirri.
The cdiated epaulettes are very distuict, narrow, slightly curved, with the
convexity mediad. They commence at the anterior margin and reach about halfway
along the dorsal surface of the head, terminating in a depression of its surface. In a
less well-preserved specimen the epaulettes assume a more or less triangular form, with
the base external and one angle mediad, that of the left side especially resembles Quatre-
fages' figure (pi. XX, fig. 1).
The dorsal surface of the prostomium — ^that is, the middle region of the " head " —
is convex, and rather browner than the neighbouring region of the body; it is bounded
laterally by a pair of deep, longitudinal depressions, which separate it from the cirrus
bases on either side.
No eyes are visible in this individual; but they are present in the smallest
specimen, which was stained and mounted in balsam.
There is no sign of the " first cirrus " which occurs in some species.
The " second cirrus "' is at least 18 mm. in length, and reaches to at least the
15th segment. It is very delicate, breaks easily on being manipulated. The cellular
envelope is missing in the distal portion, and the protruding, very transparent chitinous
axis is difficult to trace under a dissecting microscope. It is thus difficult to state
exactly the length of this cirrus. But in the larger of the less well-preserved specimens
the cuTus is seen to extend to the hinder end of the body; so that this may, I think
be regarded as its normal length. The base of the cirrus is nearly hemispherical, with
a somewhat pointed apex externally, whence the cirrus arises. The longitudinal
diameter of the base is about equal to its transverse, and this is greater than the
width of the prostomium. The diameter of the " head " across the cirrus bases is 5-5
mm.
Between the base of the cirrus and the first pair of parapods the gap is longer
than that separating the subsequent feet. The length of this gap or '' neck '" is equal
to the diameter of the body at this point.
The distance separating the successive parapods is about half the Ijasal length,
but in the poorly-preserved specimen the feet are closer together.
At their greatest development the length of a parapod is greater than the width
of the body, but at either end of the series this difference decreases,
POLYCHiETA— BENHAM. 63
The dorsal ramus of tlie foot (fig. 66) is rather shorter than the ventral, and the
two diverge at an angle which approaches 90°. Indeed, in less well-preserved specimens,
this angle is a right angle. The end of each ranius is bluntly pointed and appears brown,
especially in those cases in which the membrane has been torn away. The " pinnal
membrane " is characteristically developed, and resembles that of T. nisseni Kosa.
On the dorsal surface it conmiences on the base of the foot, some distance proximad of
the bifurcation ; its line of origin is undulating, as also is its margin. The membrane
continues round the apex, and only ceases at the angle formed by the two rami. The
arrangement of the ventral pinnal membrane is similar, but it is more extensive. It
bears two " pinnal glands,'" which are termed by Rosa the ^' hyaline " and the
" chromophil " glands.* There is no " rosette.'" The species, therefore, belongs to
Rosa's sub-genus Tamapteris.
The " hyaline " gland is capped by a dark orange or red brown mass of pigment,
and is situated just dorsal of the apex of the ventral ramus. It makes its first
appearance on the 3rd foot.
The " chromophil " gland (the "' cupule " of Quatrefages) appears as a rounded
glandular thickening, differing in texture, as in its pale bufi colour, from the surroundil^g
transparent membrane. These glands commence on the 5th foot, and are recognisable
as far back as the 20th, beyond which I am unable to detect them.
The two larger specimens are males, and the young testis is situated in the dorsal
lobe of the foot, along the roof of its cavity.
Locality . —
Commonwealth Bay. Pack ice.
Distribution. — Antarctic Ocean, lat. 60° 3' South, long. 0° 60' (Quat.). Between
Kerguelen and Macdonald Islands (Mcintosh).
Remarks. — This species formed the basis of Quatrefages' account of the genus
in his " Histoire Naturelle des Anneles," and his account has been repeated,
though recast, by Rosa (1908, p. 312) in his useful monograph of the genus.
Quatrefages' specimen had been collected during the voyage to the South
Polar Regions of the Zdee (1837-1840), though it is not mentioned in the
reports of that voyage. The specimen was imperfect, lacking the hinder end
and the long cirri. It is described as being opaque and " maroon coloured "
(which agrees probably with the present specimens). Owing to the imper-
fections of the type, I have deemed it worth while to enter pretty fully into
detail, for the species has not been examined or reported upon since 1865.
Quatrefages, in his figure of the " head " (pi. XX, fig. 1) shows the epaulettes
as triangular, and, as I have mentioned, it is so when the animal is ill preserved.
The foot (Quat., fig. 2) is possibly somewhat distorted, as the angle made by
the two rami is greater than it is in well-preserved material. Here, again, I
♦Though the gland takes hsematoxylin very strongly, it is not noticeably affected by alum carmine, which I used.
64 AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.
find that ill-preserved specimens are more nearly like Quatrefages' figure.
In short, the present specimens agree precisely with his account of the species,
whether under the description of the genus (p. 219) or of the species (p. 227).
There is, I think, strong justification for Mcintosh ascribing to this
species those specimens that occurred in considerable numbers in the neighbour-
hood of Kerguelen. It is true he gives no details whatever, and Rosa has
suggested that perhaps he had T. eschcholtzi Quat., l)efore him. This occurs
near the Cape of Good Hope, and the suggestion was, no doubt, warranted.
But in view of the fact that T. carpenten was originally found in the neighbour-
hood of Bouvet Island and now at almost the exact opposite quarter of the
Antarctic seas there is no geographical ground for refusing to accept Mcintosh's
identification.
ToMOPTERLS SEPTENTRioNALis Quatrefoges.
Quatrefages (1865), vol. ii, p. 229.
Rosa (1908), p. 297, pi. XII, fig. 17.
T. {J olmstonella) seftentrionalis , Gravier (1911), p. 72 (full list of references).
About a dozen specimens of this bi-polar species were gathered by tow- netting
diuing January, 1914, at depths from 45-100 fathoms. They vary in length from
5-15 mm.
Gravier has already pointed out that in his specimens the length of the peristomial
cirri exceeds that given by Rosa, who stat&s that they are about | the body length. It
appears possible that this varies with age, for I find that in one that is 8 nun. in length
the cirri are longer than the body. The specimen was mounted, and the cirri fortunately
lay directed backwards. In one of 15 mm. they are at least 10 mm. long, and have
every appearance of having been broken. Southern gives the length as from " one-
half to four-fifths " of the body length (1911, p. 21).
As previous observers have stated, the hyaline glands are difficult of detection in
all the segments in which they occur. I find them in the first three parapods distinctly
and in at least 12 of the subsequent parapods, though they are not readily visible ir
all the feet of every specimen.
The eyes are brown, rather far apart, and situated far forwards, just in front )
the bases of the cirri.
Surely it is by a lapsus calami that Gravier places this species in the sub-genus
J olmstonella, for it has, according to the observations of Apstein, Rosa, and myself,
neither rosette nor first cirrus nor tail; and Rosa himself places it in the sub-genus
Tomofteris on this account.
Localities .—
Commonwealth Bay, 45 fathoms, 50 fathoms, 100 fathoms.
Distribution. — ^North Atlantic; Baltic; North Sea: S.W. Coast of Ireland
(Southern); Pacific (Apstein); lat. 69° 15' south, long. 105° 5' west (Gravier).
rOLYCHi^lTA— BENHAM. 6^
Family 'i^^nVABM.
Genus Nekeis Cuvier.
Nereis loxechini Kinherg.
Nicon loxechini, Kinberg ( 1865), No. 2, p. 178.
Nereis loxechini, Ehlers (1908), p. 73.
Nereis loxechini, Ehlers (1913), p. 497.
(Plate 8, figs. 67-75.)
' This is evidently a rare worm, and the only species of Ner^ is ( other than N. uncinata
Ehlers) recorded from the Antarctic region. Up till 1908 it had not been met with
since Kinberg's record of it at Magellan Strait. In that year Ehlers pnblished a brief
description of a small individual obtained from St. Paul's Island; the only one
collected by the expedition. In his later memoir he records a larger specimen,
measuring 77 mm. by 6 mm. across the body, and containing 86 segnaents, from
Kaiser Wilhelm II Land. It was noted as being " red-brown in colour " when alive.
He, however, added no new facts about the species.
As no figures have been published (unless they are contained in Theel's new-
edition of Kinberg's work, which I have not been able to consult), it seems desirable to
add another and more detailed illustrated account of the species.
Three specimens were gathered by the " Aurora," in depths from 157 to 325
fathoms; all are more or less imperfect. The most nearly complete individual has a
length of 60 mm. and a breadth of 6 mm. over the parapods, and 5 mm. over the body
anteriorly; thence it tapers, so that at about the middle of the body these measure-
meiits are 4 and 3 mm. respectively.
This worm consists of 132 segments, and only lacks a few of tlie hindmost. Another
fragment represents a larger individual; it consists of the head and 45 segments, and
measures 40 mm., with a breadth of 5 mm. over the body, and 7 mm. across the feet.
Tlie thii'd specimen is rather soft; it is 26 mm. by 3 mm. over the body, and
4 nim. over the feet. The hinder end of the fragment, whose segments I did not count,
is r25 mm. across the body.
The dorsal surface is brown, more deeply tinted over the middle area, with a pale
line across the anterior margin of each segment; the lateral areas are almost white ; the
parapods are brown, with two glandular masses of greyish-brown at their bases. The
tips of the ligules are similarly tinted.
The prostomium (fig. 67) is broader than long; the posterior ocuhferous region
is rather abruptly marked ofi from the narrower tentacular region in the well preserved
specimen, but not so much in the less well preserved (fig. 68). The eyes are large, each
with a well developed lens; the posterior eye is oval rather than circular, with the long
66 AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.
axis slightly oblique to a transverse line; they face upwards and backwards. The
anterior pair, of which only the upper half is visible from above in this specimen, faces
forwards and outwards. The posterior pair is close to the hinder margin, the anterior
separated from them by about the diameter of an eye.
The tentacles are about half the length of the prostomium in one case ; nearly
equal to it in the less well preserved specimen. The palps are broad and short, with a
nearly spherical appendage, and do not reach further forwards than the tips of the
tentacles, or only slightly further.
Of the peristomial cirri, the longest, i.e.. the anterior dorsal, reaches back to the
7th or 9th segment, and is from 8 to 10 mm. in length; the next, a ntero- ventral, is about
half this length, and the other two are successively shorter, the shortest being of the
same length as the prostomium pluti its tentacles.
The peristomium is rather longer than the first chaetigerous segment and about
equal to the second; it has a straight anterior margin.
The parapods are relatively short : aiid present a peculiarity that I do not
remember seeing noted in other species. The posterior lip of the neuropod is produced
outwards into an ovate process, very distinctly constricted at its base, and though
normally du-ected outwards, is sometimes displaced backwards. It occupies the position
of one of the folia 'cous outgrowths characteristic of the Heteronereid stage of some
species (fig. 69).
In the anterior feet, up to about the 22nd, the upper ligule is bluntly pointed,
no longer than the dorsal lip or " middle ligule." The lip of the ventral lobe is bluntly
rounded and carries, as I have mentioned, the curious appendage on its posterior face.
The ventral ligule is rounded and shorter and broader than the ventral lip, and this
seems to be a specific character (fig. 70).
Posteriorly, at or about the 34th foot (fig. 71), the upper ligule becomes rather
more pointed, as does also the middle ligule; the ventral ligule remains broadly rounded,
and is even larger than anteriorly.
In the still more posterior feet (fig. 72) this ventral ligule is still more noticeable
as a large rounded lol)e, larger than any of the other lobes.
The cliaefcB are arranged as follow in the anterior feet : —
Dorsal bundle. — About 12-15 spinigerous homogomphs, with long slender appendix.
Ventral bundle. — (a) Supra-acicular group : 6-8 spinigerous homogomphs, as
above, together with 3-4 stout-shafted, brown, falcigerous heterogomphs with
a shorter appendix.* (b) Sul)-acicular group : A few spiniger homogomphs and
16-18 heterogomph falcigers with slender colourles shaft.
* The appendix is short only as con^pared with that of the homogomphs ; it is longer than the usual short falciger.
POLYCH^TA— BENHAM. 67
The broMTi, stout heterogomphs are absent in the anterior feet of the specimen
from 157 fathoms. Is it a sexua) mark ?
In the 20th and subsequent feet the number of these stout bristles is reduced
to two.
The appendix of the heterogomphs (figs. 73, 74) is knife-blade like, with long
fine hairs along its edge. The tip is hooked, and from the end an oblique line indicates
the margin of the " guard."
The pharynx is pecuhar in having no paragnaths, either in the oral or in the
maxillary divisions. The jaw (fig. 76) has sixteen rounded teeth, of which the five
distals are concealed by the brown edge of the jaw, as it lies on its side.
Locality . —
Commonwealth Bay. Station 2, 318 fathoms (one); Station 3, 157 fathoms
(one); Station 10, 325 fathoms (one).
Distribution. — York Bay, Magellan Strait (Kinberg) : East of St. Paul Island,
367-3 fathoms ; K. Wilhelm-II Land, 210 fathon-is (Ehlers).*
Nereis australis Schmarda.
Helen/nereis australis Schmarda (1861), p. 101, pi. XXXI, fig. 242.
Platynereis magalhaenis Kinberg (1865), Xo. 2, p. 177.
Nereis Australis Eenham (1909), p. 238, pi. IX, fig. 1.
For a full synonymy and literature see Benham (1909, p. 238) and Fauvel (1916,
p. 484). The latter zoologist does not take the view put forward by myself that
Schmarda's species is synonymous with Kinberg's. I have gone into this matter pretty
fully in the alcove-mentioned article and I am still of opinion there expressed, although
Ehlers does not seem to have noticed the discussion, and has expressed no opinion as
to it in any of his recent works.
Specimens of the worm were collected at various spots on the Macquarie Island
by Mr. H. Hamilton, to the number of sixty or more. He found it in rock pools, &c.;
it appears, therefore, to be a littoral species. Some of the sjiecimens are filled with
reproductive cells, either male or female; but they exhibit no heteronereid changes.
One male, preserved in formalin, has pale orange-brown colour, brighter
anteriorly, with grey feet.
One specimen, at least, is still within its tube composed of black sand particles
and small stones. Gravier has described such a sandy tube for N. inagalhaensis.
A small individual, measuring 12 mm. in length, has paragnaths only in
compartments IV next the ;;aws ; the rest of the buccal surface is bare.
*I have used Bell's estimate that one fathom is equal to 1-829 metres, as given in the "Discovery" Report:
footnote, p. 4.
6g AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.
Locality. —
Macquarie Island (North End, Garden Bay, and West Coast).
Distribution . — Kerguelen, St. Paul, Magellan Region, Fuegia, Chili ( Ehlers) ; Marion
Island, Falkland Islands, Fernando Noronha (Mcintosh); New Zealand and
its subantarctic outliers (Benham); Puerto Madryn (Gravier); Table Bay,
South Africa (Ramsay).
Nereis kerguelensjs Mcintosh.
Mcintosh (1885), p. 225, pi. XXXV, figs. 10-12; pi. XV J A, figs. 17, 18.
Ehlers (1897), p. 65, pi. IV, figs. 81-93.
Gravier (1906), p. 29.
EUers (1907), p. 11.
Gravier (1911), p. 76.
Ehlers(1913), p. 495.
Ramsay (1914), p. 42.
Fauvel(1916), p. 433, with full bibliography.
Fauvel(1917), p. 203.
The present collection contained only two small specimens, in each of which the
pharynx is protruded, allowing the characteristic arrangement of the paragnaths to be
readily seen.
The species occurred with ]Si . australis in rock pools, at low water.
Locality . —
Macquarie Island.
Distribution. — Kerguelen (Mcintosh, Ehlers); S. Georgia (Ehlers); S. Orkneys
(Ramsay); Falkland Islands (Fauvel); Tasmania (Benham); New Zealand
(Ehlers); S. Australia (Fauvel); Canary Islands, Mediterranean ( Marenzeller) ;
He Booth Wandel, Petermann, Port Lockroy, Biscoe Bay, Admh-alty Bay
(Gravier).
Family NEPHTHYDIDiE.
Genus Nephthys Cuvier.
Nephthys macrura Schmarda.
Schmarda(1861), p. 91.
N. Virginia Kinberg* (1865), p. 239 ; Ehlers (1897), p. 19, pi. I, figs. 9-12.
N. trissofhjllus , Grube (1877), p. 533; Mcintosh (1885), p. 159, pi. XXVL
figs. 1-5; pi. XXVII, figs. 1,4; pi. XXX, fig. 8; pi. XlV A, figs. 9-11.
'Kinberg writes " virginis " iu his original account; Ehlers " virgini."
I'OLYCH^TA— BENHAM. C9
N. macrura Elilers (1904), p. 14.
N. macrura Elilers ( 1908), p. 57; ( 1913), p. 451.
N. macrura CTiavier (1911), p. 98.
xY. macrura Benham (1915), p. 203, pi. XL, fig. 57.
N. macrtira Fauvel (1916), p. 436, pi. YIII, figs. 1-3 (and adds IS! . pra^hofa
Kinberg as a synonym).
In 1897 Elilers, from a study of the original S2:>eciniens, showed that (! rube's
species is identical with that of Kinberg ; and in his account of the New Zealand Annelids
( 1904) he further established, from an examination of the types, that Kinberg's species
is synonymous Avith Schmarda's. He gave an extended and illustrated account of the
species, which is widely spread over the subantarctic area. It is evidently very common,
for the " Aurora " naturalists gathered some seventy specimens, varying in length
from 14 mm. up to 125 mm., the latter \nth a diameter of 12 mm. over the parapods.
The worms are labelled as being " flesh coloiu:ed " in life as I know from
observation of our local specimens. In spirit, however, the dorsal surface becomes
a pale brown and the parapods usually white.
The habitat extends from the shore-line, where 't seems to be most abundant, to a
depth of at least 157 fathoms, where it seems to attain its greatest size.
Localities . —
Boat Harbour — Shore : 2-4 fathoms ; 25 fathoms.
Station 3, 157 fathoms.
Station 12, 110 fathoms.
Distribution. — South Chili (Schmarda); Magellan Strait (Kinberg) ; Kerguelen
(Grube, Mcintosh, Elilers) ; Heard Island (Mcintosh) ; Bouvet Island, New
Zealand ( Ehlers) ; Bass Strait (Beiiham); South Shetlands(Gravier); Falkland
Islands (Fauvel).
Family AMPHINOMID.^.
Genus Eurythoe Kinberg.
EURYTHOE COMPLANATA Pallas.
E. pacifica Kinberg— Mcintosh (1885), p. 27, pi. II, figs. 3, 4; pi. Ill, fig. 2;
pi. II A, fig. 13; pi. Ill A, figs. 5-9.
E. complanata Ehlers (1908), p. 38.
Ehlers* has shown that these two, as well as E. alcyonia Savigny, are identical,
and discusses the history of the species. Fauvel ( 1919, p. 348) gives a list of the literature.
From the neighbourhood of Tasmania a young specimen was obtained measuring
1 1 mm. for 35 segments.
The distribution of the species is very wide, iis it seems to occur in all seas and
oceans.
* Ehlers, " Zur Konntniss d. Ostafrikanischcn Borstciuviirmer "' in Naclir. d. K. Gescll : d. Wiss. Gottineen. ISO",
Heft. 2, \i. 2. "
70 AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.
Family EUNICIDiE.
Sub -family Eunicin^.
Genus Eunice Cuvier.*
Eunice tentaculata Quatrefages.
Quatrefages (1865), vol. I, p. 317.
E. pycnobranchiata Mcintosh (1885), p. 294, pi. XXXIX, figs. 13-15 ;
pi. XXI A, figs, 4, 5.
E. pycnohmnchiata Benliam (1915), p. 213, pi. XLI, figs. 79, 80.
Fauvel (1917, p. 209) has pointed out the resemblances in structure of these
two species, and shows that they are identical. For other synonyms consult his
article.
A single specimen of this Australasian worm was obtained by Professor Flynn
(12th December, 1912).
Locality. —
Off Maria Island, Tasmania.
Distribution . —
Bass Strait (Mcintosh, Benham), New Zealand (Benham), vSouth Australia
(Fauvel).
Sub -family Lumbriconerein.^ .
Genus Lumbriconereis Blainville.
LuMBRicoNEREis MAGALHAENSis Kinberg.
Kinberg (1864), p. 568.
L. magalhaensis Grube (1877), p. 531.
L. kerguelensis Grube (1878), p. 14 (separate copy).
L. kerguelensis Gr., Mcintosh (1885), p. 246, pi. XXXVI. figs. 16, 17; pi.
XVII A, fig. 18; pi. XVIII A, figs. 2-4.
L. nuujalJiatnsis Ehlers (1897), p. 74.
Ehlers (1901), p. 136.
Gravier (1906), p. 30.
Ehlers (1908), p. 99.
Gravier (1911), p. 78, pi. Ill, figs. 35, 36.
Ehlers (1913), p. 499.
The specimens before me agree almost exactly with Mcintosh's account of
L. kerguelensis Gr. Grube had tentatively assigned it to Kinberg's species, and Ehlers
in 1897, having had the opportunity of examining both the types, found that they are
identical.
* Leiper ( 1908) lias enumerated a series of names of annelid genera which are already " occupied " ; amongst others
is Eunice. But it is so well established amongst Zoologists, while the insect to which it was originally applied is unknown
to most of us, that no useful purpose would be served by discarding the name as now usually employed.
POLYCH^TA— BENHAM. 71
The existence of aji independent flange below tlie pseudo-articulation of the
hooded hooks in the anterior feet seen^ to be a characteristic feature of the species,
and in some of the lower cha^tae is a similar, but less developed flange on the convex
side of the shaft.
There is, however, one point in which my specimens differ from the account
given by Mcintosh. I do not find, in the posterior feet, hooded hooks like that figured
by him on pi. XVII a. fig. 18 ; they resemble, on the other hand, that which he
attributes to L. japonica, and figures on pi. XVIII a. fig. 1. Has an error crept
into the explanation of the plates ?
The buccal segment agrees with that figured by Gravier (pi. Ill, fig. 35), as
representing the adult condition of the species.
The specimens in this collection number four ; one is imperfect and measures
80 mm. by 3 mm. This came from a depth of 325 fathoms. Of the other three from
the Macquarie Island, one is niature and filled with eggs, rendering the body yellowish
in colour ; it coiisists of 133 segments, and measures 65 mm. by 2 mm. The remaining
two are more slender, dark purplish-brown (in formalin), with a green iridescence.
Localities. —
Commonwealth Bay, Sfcxtion 10, 325 fathoms (one).
Maccjuarie Island, shore (three).
Distribution .—Kerguelen (Kinberg, Grube, Mcintosh); Magellan Strait (Kinberg,
Ehlers), Fuegia, South Georgia, Falkland Islands, Bouvet Island, K. Wilhelm-
II Land (Fillers); He Booth Wandel, Port Charcot, Petermann, Admiralty
Bay, South Shetlands (Gravier). •
LUMBRICONEREIS MACQUARIEXSIS, Sp. HOV.
(Plate 8, figs. 7&-81.)
This anterior fragment of a small Lumliriconereid consists of a head and 56
segments, and measures 25 mm. by 1-25 mm.
It is greyish in colour, non-iridescent. The specimen is not well preserved,
and is rather soft.
The prostomium is dark ])luish grey, nearly hemispherical, with a median ventral
furrow (fig. 76). The peristomium is interrupted by a buccal process of the second
segment, and this process is grooved in the middle line ; furrows also exist, cutting
into the edge of the lateral portions of the peristomium. Its appearance, in short, is
like that figured by Gravier for the young of L. magdhamsis, and also like Ehlers' figure
for L. spliarocephala.
Were it not for further details, I should have referred it to the former species.
7^ AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.
The parapods are very short, even anteriorly (fig. 77), with a rounded posterior
Up, which does not project much beyond the anterior lip ; the length of which scarcely
exceeds its height. Posteriorly the feet are even shorter (fig. 78). Each is supported
by a single uncoloured aciculum ; the chsetse are very few ; of the capilliforms
(fig. 81) I see only one in the 8th foot ; there are no roots embedded in the foot, so
that it is not a question of breakage and loss. In the 25th foot there are none.
The hooded hooks are also few ; in the 8tli only one is present ; in the 25th
there are four; and at about the 45th three only.
These hooded hooks are, for the most part, without any articulation (fig. 80) ;
the hood is strongly striated, and at its proximal region its edge is denticulated, some
five or six distinct teeth being recognisable, at any rate in the 25th foot.
In the various preparations of feet from different parts of the worm I met with
only one articulated hook ; it presents below the articulation a " ventral " independent
flange (fig. 79), like that in L. magalhaensis .
The upper jaws recall those of L. magalhaensis, but the lower jaw plates are white,
and resemble those of L. spha"rocephala.
In the brevity of the feet it bears a resemblance to L. brevicirris Ehlers, and in this
species, too, there are no articulated hooks, but the form of the hooks is very
different, and the species differs from the present in other ways.
From L. sphcerocephala Schnmrda, of which I have studied local examples, the
present species differs in having very much shorter feet ; in the early cessation of the
capilliforms ; in the lack of articulation in the hooks ; in having a single colom-less
aciculum instead of three, of which one or more is dark brown ; and in the structure
of the upper jaw plates.
Locality . —
Macquarie Island.
Genus Ophryotrocha claparede and Metschnikoff.
Ophryotrocha claparedi Studer.
Studer (1878), p. 119, pi. V, fig. 11.
Paractius notialis Ehlers (1908), p. 101, pi. XIV, figs. 1-6.
Paractius notialis Ehlers (1913), p. 500.
A very large number of specimens of this minute worm, which measures about
2-3 mm., were collected by Dr. A. L, McLean in Boat Harbour. He notes that when
alive they are " pale, with dark patches dorsally." There is no pigment in the
preserved worms, and it may be that he saw the black jaws through the transparent
wall.
POLYCH^TA— BENHAM. 7^
These worms agree with the account given by Ehlers of his species, which was
founded on a single specimeii. In his later niemoii-, however, he had a good number
of individuals at his disposal, and he notes certain variations presented by them, such
as the presence or absence of eyes, details in the form of the jaw apparatus, &c.
The species differs from the northern O. pueriUs Claparede and Metschnikoff, in
the absence ot the ventral tentacles on the prostomium. and in the absence of the
median anal cirrus, as well as in other details.
As long ago as 1888 I)e St. Joseph (p. 240), in describing the species Parcwtius
mutabilis, raised the question as to whether Ophryotrocki puerilis, Staurocephalus
minimus Langerhans, and S. siberti Mcintosh, should not be ranged under the generic
name ParacUus Levinsen ; though it would have more in accordance with the usual
practice to include the latter under the earlier title. In 1895 (p. 210) he returns
to the question, and records his belief that Claparede's species is distinct from
P. mutahilis.
Later, Bonnier (1893), in discussing Studer's species, notes that his account is
'• malheureusement insuffisant" owing to the fact that the material had been lost after
the preliminary account had been drawn, up. Bonnier suggests that it is probably a
synonym of 0. puerilis. He then considers the validity of Levinsen's genus, and
concludes that it and the abovenamed species of Staurocephalus are all referable to the
genus Ophrijotrochi. In that work will be found a complete bibliography up to that
date.
In the same year Korschelt went into the question, chiefly in reference to the
jaws in the Mediterranean species, and arrived at a similar conclusion.
Ehlers ( 1908) makes no reference to this discussion, but does so in his later memoir-,
and seems to agree with the conclusions arrived at by Bonnier. Although he retains
the title Paractius notialis at the head of his account of the worm, he discards it at the
end ; for he writes "nach dem alien halte ich es fiir wahrscheinlich, dass *S. claparedi
und P. notialis identisch sind,' ' and in all probability are to be assigned to the species
0. puerilis, which would thus be a highly variable cosmopolitan species.
The only point that remains for solution is the question as to whether Studer's
antarctic species is or is not identical with the northern form.
With the abundant material in my possession, I hoped to look into the question
more thoroughly, but this Report has already been delayed by the calls on my time
for University work, that this matter must for the present remain open. I hope,
however, to look into it later, especially to see whether the jaw apparatus presents any
constant differences from that of 0. puerilis.
Locality.—
Boat^Harbour.
Distribution.— Keignehn (Studer, Ehlers), K. Wilhelm-II Land (Ehlers).
»83892— K
?4 AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.
Family GLYCERID^.
Genus Glycera Savigny.
Ctlycera capitata Oersted.
Oersted (1843), p. 44, pi. VII, figs. 87, 88, 90-94, 99.
Ehlers (1865-1868), Die Borstenwiirmer, p. 648, pi. XXIII, figs. 47, 48.
Mcintosh (1885), p. 343.
G. kergudensis Mcintosh (1885), p. 344, pi. XXXV A, figs. 3-4.
G. capitata Ehlers (1897), p. 80.
G. capitata Arwidsson (1898), p. 7, pi. I, figs. 1-6. ])I. IV, fig. 54.
G. capitata Ehlers (1901), p. 154 (with synonymy).
Ehlers ( 1908), p. 105.
Moore (1911), p. 299.
Izuka (1912), p. 249, pi. XXIII, figs. 11-13.
Ehlers (1913), p. 503.
Treadwell (1914), p. 198.
This species is represented in the collection by only two indviduals, both about
the same size. The one more carefully studied is imperfect posteriorly, containing 62
segments, measuring 25 mm. in length, with a maximum diameter of 4 mm. some
little distance behind the anterior end ; it gradually decreases both forwards to 2 mm.
at the buccal segment, and backwards, so that the hinder end of the fragment is 1 mm.
It appears, therefore, that only a few segments are missing.
Localities. —
Commonwealth Bay, Station 2, 318 fathonis.
Station 12, 110 fathoms.
Distribution. — Kerguelen( Mcintosh) ; Falkland Islands, Magellan Strait, Patagonian
coast, Bouvet Island, K. Wilhelm-II Land (Ehlers) ; Azores, Portuguese
coast (Mcintosh) ; North Atlantic (Oersted); N. Pacific, Calif ornian coast
(Moore) ; Alaskan coast (Treadwell) ; Sakhalin Island, Japan (Izuka).
Family SPHiERODORIDiE.
Genus Sph.erodorum Levinsen (nee Oersted).
Sph^rodorum SPIS.SUM sf. nov.*
(Plate 9, figs. 82-89.)
Amongst some material, containing chiefly Syllids, which Dr. Haswell found
in sorting out specimens from the Macquarie Island and winch he kindly forwarded
to me, I find two individuals of this minute worm.
* apissus — -crowded, close together; as of ae4t3— here, has refereace to the integumental papillee.
POLYCH^TA— BENHAM. 75
One of these had been cleared and mounted in balsam — it measures 4.7 mm., and
consists of " head " and 26 chsetigerous segments. It had apparently been fixed in
osmic acid, for many of the granules in the body wall and in the inteiiur of the body
are blackened (fig. 82).
The other, when it reached me in alcohol, was flattened as if it. had been studied
under a cover slip : this I stained in alum carmine— its length is 3-5 mm. It is rather
difficult to be sure of the number of chsetal bundles, for it is flattened asymmetrically,
lying on one side with the ventral surface upwards, one series of parapods (of the left
side) being along one edge for about half the length, the rest below the margin, the other
series lying along the middle of the preparation— they are not easy to see except under a
high power.
I believe, however, that there are 25 or 26 pairs ol parapods. The body is not other-
wise segmented ; there are no external furrows, and internally there are several large ova
which are without that regular arrangement they would have were any septa present.
The ventral surface is fl at, the dorsal much arched. As the animal lies the distance
from one set of parapods to that on the other side is about three times the width of the
ventral surface.
The whole surface of the animal is densely covered with crowded pap illso (hence
the specific nan e). These are well seen in profile along the edge, and each is a mass of
cellular substance enclosed in a continuat'':'n of the cuticle of the body. Over the
body the cuticle is unusually thick, but it becomes rather thinner as it rises up to form
the wall of the papilla. Within are a few nuclei stained greenish-brown (in the osmic)
and some pale carmine-stained protoplasm and threads. At the base the cuticle is
pierced by a small aperture allowing a continuity between the contents and the substance
of the body wall (fig. 87).
The two ends of the animal are very similar : the anterior end does not present
any dift'erentiated prostomium ; no lobe is marked oft" from the first body segment.
At a little distance from the end is a pair of eyes ; at least, so I interpret the structures.
In the unst lined cleared specimen there is a pair of sharply-defined oval vesicles
surrounded by a firm membrane, pale brownish in colour, but without visible contents
(fig. 83). In the stained specimen black pigment spots occupy a corresponding position.
I cannot detect any tentacles, although 1 examined both specimens under high
power. There are no processes, other than the papilla?, visible in these flattened
specimens, and none of them are longer than their neighbours. The anterior end, like
the rest of the body, is densely covered w'th these papillae.
There is no distinct peristomium; the first bundle of bristles lies about midway
between the eye^ and the entrance to the pharynx, which must be a short distance
behind the mouth, whose position I am unable to determine. The structure of the head
is, in fact, just as Ehlers has described it for S. parvum, except that in that specieg
he finds distinct tentacles.
76 AUSTRALASIAN ANTAECTIC EXPEDITION.
At the hinder end, too, I was unsuccessful in detecting anal cirri — it is merely
covered with the papillfe (iig. 84).
On the body generally, so far as it is possible to make out in the flattened
condition, the papilla^ have the following arrangement : - On the ventral surface there
are about five longitudinal rows of papilla?, somewhat smaller than those that cover
the dorsal surface. Many of them are tinged with black, as if a secretion had been
affected by the osmic acid.
Between the successive parapods are two papilla^ in a longitudinal row. Above
them the papilla? seem to be arranged roughly in 12-15 rows, judging from the number
on the exposed portion of the body — I admit there is room for error here. I have figured
a short jDortion of the body wall at about the middle of the animal (fig. 85). Along the
dorso-lateral edge the papillae are seen lying close together in a row ; there are no definite
" small " and " large " papillae, though they are not all quite of the same size (fig. 86).
At any rate the definite alternation, such as occurs in S. farvum (Ehlers (1913), p. 504)
and S. mmutum (Webster and Benedict) does not exist here.
From the edge I can trace transverse rows to the parapods, some three or four
papillae in each row ; these rows are alternately in line with and between the parapods,
and are at about equal distance apart ; those in the parapodial or mid-segmental row
are perhaps a little larger than the others, but the difference is not at all well marked
Also, those in any row that lie nearer to the parapods are slightly smaller than those
more dorsally placed. The successive rows tend to alternate with one another in
position, though this does not seem absolutely constant, while here and there amongst
the others, are a few distinctly smaller papilla\
The parapods are rather narrow, truncated cones, carrying one, or occasionally
two, of the smaller papilhT on the dorsal surface near the base (fig. 86). One of the
lips, the anterior I think, is produced into a rounded process, not unlUve a papilla,
but its contents are not cut off by cuticle from the underlying material.
I cannot see any cirri. Each parapod is supported by a single colourless aciculum,
the apex of which just reaches the surface, and carries about six long colourless jointed
chsetee, the appendix of which is very thin, scarcely hooked terminally, with a thin blade
in which I can detect no striations (in Canada balsam). The appendix is not unlike
that figured for *S'. farvum, but is rather shorter (fig. 89).
In the iinstained specimen the pharynx is visible, its chitinous lining being
outlined by black. It is wrapped round by a coat of muscle, increasing from each end
to a considerable thickness in the middle. It occupies the second and third chgetigerous
segments, i.e., its entrance is behind the first bundle, its hinder end a little in front of
the fourth bundle of chsetse (fig. 83).
Around its entrance are some glands, deeply tinted black. The apparatus
resembles a " pharynx," such as occurs in various families, rather than a " proventriculus"
or " stomach " of the Syllidse,
POLYCH^TA— BENHAM. 77
I cannot trace any other organs.
Tlie species is manifestly different from S. parvum Ehlers, in which the papilla?
are fewer, are definitely spaced segmentally in alternating rings of larger and smaller
sizes. It differs from *S'. minutum Webster and Benedict, which is densely clothed in
papilla^, but they are of two distinct sizes ( larger in the parapodial levels, and two or more
irregular rows of smaller ones between) ; (see Southern*). Both these species also have
definite tentacles. It may be that in specimens of the new species that have not been
flattened they may also be found. However, the parapods and the chfetse are
dissimilar.
FamUy ARICIIDiE.
Genus AiiiciA Savigny.
Aricia marginata Elders.
Ehlers (1897), p. 95, pi. VI, figs. 1.50-156.
Willey ( 1902), p. 275, pi. XLV, fig. 4 (spine).
Ehlers(1908), p. 116.
Ehlers (1912), p. 23.
Nainereis marginata Fauvel (1916), p. 445, pi. VIII, figs. 26-33 (juvenile form).
This species is characterised by the triserial arrangement of the spines in the
anterior 13 or 14 neuropods ; by the absence of any fringe or papilhc in their neighbour-
hood ; and by the gills commencing on the sixth chsetigerous segment.
The worms before me lack the black lines in the intersegmental furrows and
along the margins of the gills, from which the specific name was derived, but it seems
now to be recognised that these markings were due to adventitious particles.
Those from the shallower waters of Boat Harbom- are white, are coiled, and have a
length of about 26 mm. Some of these contain eggs, so that they are not juveniles.
One anterior fragment from 318 fathoms is of stouter build and of a pale brown
colour, with an ii'idescent skin. It measures 20 mm., by 3 mm. across the body and
2 mm. in height. It consists of a head and only 47 segments.
The uncini have the form figured by Willey, with a spoon-shaped hollow near the
end, below which are transverse ridges.
Localities. —
Boat Harbour, 2-4 fathoms.
Commonwealth Bay, Station 2, 318 fathoms.
Distrihition. -^8 outh Georgia, Kerguelen, K. Wilhelm-II Land (Ehlers) ; Cape
Adare (WUley) ; Roy Cove, Falkland Islands (Fauvel).
■ Southern, Proc. Roy. Irish Acad. Sci. 1914, p. 90.
78 AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.
A. MARGINATA var. HOV. MCLEANI.
(Plate 8, fig. 90.)
This variety differs from tlie species iji having in some of the anterior neuropods
an additional partial row of 3, 4, 5, or 6 black spines, starting from below and extending
upwards behind the third row. In this respect it recalls the arrangement seen in
A. olilini Ehlers(1901), which, however, possesses 10-20 of these spine-bearing segments
in place of 13 or 14 in ^. marginata.
It is true that Ehlers (1913, p. 521), in referring to a form of Aricia from the
Falklands Islands differing from /I. marginata in having 17 such segments, expresses the
opinion that differences in the number of anterior segments, as well as of gill-less segments,
are not of importance in differentiating species in the genus. If this is the case, it is possible
that A . oMini is synonymous with A . marginata, which agrees in most features with it,
though, according to Ehlers, the position of the gill in relation to the parapod is different,
for in A. oMini it is closer to the dorsal cirrus, or " lip," than in the other species; and
the form of the hinder parapods apparently present certain differences, though the
figures given by Gravier (1911, pi. VI, figs. 72-73) for A. oMini are quite different from
those given by Ehlers.
For the present it seems better to regard the two species as distinct, though it is
clear that they are closely allied, and this new variety emphasises this alliance.
The additional row of spines does not exist on all the neuropods: usually they
commence on the 3rd or 4th, and continue to the end of the series. In some cases the
third normal row is imperfect at its lower end, but not always, even in the same individual.
The gill commences on the 6th cha?tigerous segment, though in one individual it is
on the 7th, but variation in this respect is already known; and I note, for instance, that
in one specimen of A. marginata the gill is present on the 5th on one side, and on the 6th
on the other.
Some of the specimens are white, others are very pale brown.
The general dimensions and other external features are similar to those in the
species.
Locality. —
Commonwealth Bay, 25 fathoms (several).
Genus Scoloplos Oersted.
SCOLOPLOS MAWSONI sp. HOV.
S. kergudensis Gravier (nee Mcintosh) (1911), p. 108, pi. V, figs. 60-63.
(Plate 8, figs. 91-94.)
A vast number of individuals of this small species was collected at Boat Harbour
at depths of '2-4^ fathoms. In one bottle there are scores, if not hundreds of specimens.
rOLYCHiETA— BENHAM. 7&
They are stated to be " red in life," but in the preserved condition, of course, this blood
colour is absent; they are almost white, with the anterior end grey. The dimensions
are remarkably uniform, and though most of them are curved, the length of the straight
ones is 25 mm., with a breadth of 2-5 mm. at a short distance from the anterior end,
whence the body tapers slowh' backwards. The hinder end is usually imperfect, and
many seem to have this region more or less regenerated.
The worm contains from 60-109 segments, the last ten or a dozen of which are
very small. Many are sexually mature.
The dorsal surface is flat, the ventral very convex. The prostomium is a short
truncated cone ; in many cases quite blunt, in others roundly pointed. It is divided
from the large peristomium by a furrow, at the anterior margin of which is a pit on each
side, and immediately in front of this is a pigment spot. On the ventral surface of
this region the large lateral lips are prominent, with a median lip between them.
The anterior eleven segments bear only the low parapods, with lips and bundles
of chaetse. The chsetae are colourless, long, extremely fine capilliforms, with a saw-
like edge on one side, which is composed of blunt, rounded teeth; the stri* between
which do not reach right across the blade.
The dorsal and ventral chfetai are alike, lioth in the anterior segments and in tlie
posterior. I find no " forked " bristles, nor " acicula," such as Fauvel describes for
his specimens of *S'. kerguelensis{\9\Q), -p. 443, pi. VIII, figs. 23-24. Each bundle of
ch^tiB issues in front of a more or less pronounced cirrus, or " lip." The lip of the
dorsal bundle is conical in form, that of the ventral is lower and of greater vertical
height. In the anterior 12-14 segments the chsetse project laterally, but further back
the parapods gradually rise wp the sides of the body, so that the cha^tos become directed
upwards. Each segment behind the 14th is triannulate, the middle annulus being
much the larger of the three.
The gills commence on the 12th segment, and extend almost to the end of the
worm, except apparently on the last 10 segments or so, which are very small, and
have no outgrowi;hs of any sort. The gills are sub-cylindrical, somewhat flattened on
their antero-posterior faces, which increase in length towards the hinder end of the worm
till they are nearly as long as the body height.
In this gUled region the ventral smface of each segment is traversed by a glandular
ridge, which commences below the parapod, where it wddens out to form a triangular
area with the Ijase upwards; in the anterior segments of the branchial region, this
dwindles to a small papDla and dies out.
The position of the gills is remarkably constant : thus m 31 individuals of approxi-
matel}' equal size, taken at random, from various vials representing different hauls,
I find that in. 17 ot them the gills commence on the 12th segment on both sides;
80 AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.
m 7 others they are present on the 1 2th on one side, and on the 1 1th on the other. Six of
them have quite small gills on the 11th segment on both sides. One has a gill on 11th
on one side, and on the 13th segment on the other.
Some of the above worms are sexually mature. But in souxe that are quite
young, measuring only 5 mm.. I find likewise that in some individuals the gills com-
mence on the 12th on both sides, in others on the 11th, in others again on 11th and 12th.
In one specimen of still smaller dimensions there is a very small gill on the 10th
segment.
We may, therefore, I think, regard the position of the first eill as being on the
12th segment as a specific character.
The anus is surrounded by a thiclcened smooth ring, slightly notched dorsally
and ventrally; I see no distinct anal cirri in any of the many specimens examined.
Localities . - -
Boat Harboiu-, Conmionwealth Bay (collected by Dr. A. L. McLean), 2-4|
fathoms.
Distribution.— tiear Port Lockroy (Gravier).
Remarks.— This worm agrees well with that described by Gravier under the name
of S. kergudensis Mcintosh. At the same time he points out several features
m which his worms differ from ^he account given by Mcintosh, and he states
" that it is \vith doubt that I identify with that species the seven small
Ariciens obtained from the Roosen Chamiel, Port Lockroy." The shape of
the dorsal and ventral " cirri" (or lips, as I prefer to term them) differs,
as also does the shape of the gills, which Mcintosh figmes as filiform. It may
be noted that Mcintosh's account and figures are not in absolute agreement
as to the position of the gills. Gravier, following Ehlers, suggests that *S'.
kergudensis may be the young of ,S'. armiger. His specimens, which were
but seven in number, were of small size, about 17 mm., and badly preserved,
whereas mine are quite well preserved, and many are sexually mature. And
smce the gills commence almost constantly on the 12th segment, whereas
those in *S'. armiger begin on the 15th-18th, and rarely as far forward as the
10th, it is evident that this surmise is incorrect, at any rate for the species
studied by me, and, as I have stated, these agree quite well with those
described by Gravier.
Recently, Fauvel (1916) has given a more detailed account of S. ker-
gudensis, and finds some differences from that of the previous authors. But
it is clearly different from the present worm, in that the gills appear on the
18th- 20th segment; he finds also certain peculiar chtette— forked, pectinate
bristles— conunencing on the 10th or 9th segment; these, as I have men-
tioned, are not present, while on the 10th or Uth segment are one or two
acicula, which are likewise absent from these worms.
POLYCH^TA— BENHAM. 81
Again, the ventral '' ciiTUS " in the posterior feet, cominenciiig on the
10th, undergoes reduction till it is a short obtuse " niaraelon," which is not
true for S. mmcsoni, where it does not begm to become smaUer till at or about
the 50th segment.
It seems, then, evident that there are two species of Scoloplos in these
southern waters. That of Mcintosh, Ehlers, and Fauvel on the one hand, and
the present species and that described by Gravier on the other. It remains
to be seen to which of these sliould be ascribed those recorded by Willey
(1902) under the title of Mcintosh's species.
Family CIRRATULIDiE.
Genus Cirratulus Lamarck.
ClREATULUS CIRRATUS 0. F. Mtiller.
Miiller (1776), p. 214 (not seen.)
C. cirratm Malmgren (1867), p. 95.
P romenia jucunda Kinberg (1865), p. 254.
Pmmemafulgida Ehlers (1897). p. 114. pi. VII, figs. 174-176.
Cirratulus cirratus Fauve! (1916), p. 447 (where list of synonyms and biblio-
graphy will be found).
Fauvel compared specimens from Falkland Islands, which agree in every feature
Avith Ehlers' Promenia fulgida, with the northern form, and was unable to detect any
constant differences between them. He therefore arrives at the conclusion tabulated
above.
Members of the family are evidently rare in these southern seas, for Gravier
reports on only one Cirratulus sensu lato (1911), while Ehlers (1913) gives but little
information about the few that were collected by the German expedition, leaving
most of the fragments unnamed.
The present collection includes a number of specimens from the Boat Harbour,
and others from the Macquarie Island, some five or six in each gathering.
Although well known from the Sub-antarctic region, all round the Pole, this is
the first time that it has been recorded from the Antarctic Sea.
Localities.- —
Boat Harbour, Commonwealth Bay, 2-4 fathoms.
Macquarie Island (low water under stones and in rock pools); collected liy
IVIi". Hamilton.
Distribution. — South Georgia, Kerguelen, Magellan Strait, Fuegia, Falkland Islands;
and also Atlantic and Arctic Oceans,
*§3892— L
82 AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.
Family TEREBELLID^E.
Suh -Family Amphitritin.^ .
Genus Amphitrite 0. F. Miiller,
Amphitrite kerouelensis MelntosJi.
Mcintosh (1876), p. 321.
Grube (1877), p. 546.
Mcintosh (1885), p. 443, pi. XLVIH, fig. 7; pi. XLIX, fig. 1.
Ehlers(1897), p. 130; (1901) p. 208; (1908) p. 145: (1913) p. 556.
Gravie.r (1911), p. 129, ph XII, fig. 166 (tube).
Five specimens of tliis large species were oljtained at a depth of 157 fathoms,
but none are complete. The largest measures 140 mm. for 75 segnients, with a diameter
of 10 mm. at about the 8tli segment. The tube is thick- walled, and consists apparently
of fine grey mud ; of which a portion measures 40 mm. long, and has a thickness of 5 mm.
The mud contains very varied forms of diatoms, both long-shelled and circular;
fragments of sponge spicules and a few radiolarian tests. It agrees with Gravier's
figure, which he attributes " probably " to this species.
Locality. — ■
Commonwealth Bay, Station 3, 157 fathoms.
Distribution. —Kevgnelen (Mcintosh, Grube), Petermann, andS. Shetlands (Gravier),
Fuegia and Bouvet Island (Ehlers).
Genus Terebella (Linnwus) Malmgren.
Terebella ehlersi Gravier.
Gravier (1906), p. 47, pi. V, figs. 45, 46.
Gravier (1911), p. 130.
Ehlers (1913), p. 556.
In the previous expeditions only one or two individuals of this Antarctic species
seem to have been obtained, but during the visit of the " Aurora " to Commonwealth
Bay, as many as fifty specin^ens were procured. It is then evidently fairly abvmdant
in that area, though not nearly so common as some other species of Terebellids. In
some instances the label includes a note as to colour, which is " bright red." The
worm lives in depths of from 2-6 fathoms, though it seems to be commoner at about
25 fathoms, and less common at greater depths.
There is a slight discrepancy in the account given by the two authors as to the
nature of the tube. I find that the membranous basis is covered with material which
varies with the nature of the bottom ; in some it consists of rather fine sand grains,
interspersed with fragments of brown algae, as described by Gravier. Other tubes
POLYCH.«TA— BENHAM. 83
consist of extremely line grains of grey sand, looking like mud grains. Such tubes
have thicker walls than those with coarser grains ; and it is such a tube that Ehlers
describes. In both kinds I find ech'nid spines, and sponge spicules so embedded as to
produce a smooth external surface.
One such tube measures 90 mm. long, with a diameter of 15 mm. at its upper
end, and its wall is 3 mm. in thickness.
Most of the worms measure from 50-70 nun., with an anterior width of 7 mm.
some are larger than this, and one is 90 mm. long. Gravier, however, gives 100 mm.
as the length of a specimen Avith 86 segments.
The number of notopodial bundles varies from 40, 43, 45 and 49 in those
examined. Gravier gives 54 and Ehlers 48.
The number of ventral gland shields is 14, 15 and 16, in niy specimens. Gravier
found 14.
There is no need to add anything to Gravier's account.
Localities. — ■
Boat Harbour — Among rhizoids of floating brown Alga^ (Dr. McLean).
Boat Harbour, 2-4 fathoms. Station B, 25 fathoms.
Commonwealth Bay —
Station C, 15-20 fathoms.
Station D, 45-50 fathoms.
Station E, 55-60 fathoms.
Distribution. — South American Antarctic (Gravier), Kai:^er Wilhelmll Land (Ehlers).
Terebella vayssieri Gravier.
Phyzelia vayssieri Gravier (1911), p. 130, pi. X, figs. 121-123; pi. XL figs
134, 135.
The tube of this species, of which several were gathered, consists of variously
coloured sand grains, loosely and irregularly arranged to form a thick wall not unlike
that of some tubes of T. eUersi.
The worms attain a length of 40 mm., with a diameter of 6 mm. anteriorly, at
about the 8th segment ; the body begins to contract at about the 15th segment to
4 mm., which diameter is retained for some distance, and then it begins to taper.
There is one point upon which I lay stress in identifying the worm, and that is
the form of the uncinus in the anterior segments ; the great length of the basal process
which starts below the teeth of the uncinus, seems to be characteristic,
84 AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.
There are indeed one or two points in which my specimens seem, to differ from
Gravier's account, which may be due to differences in the state of preservation or of
^ge. Thus, he states that he could detect no eyes. In most of the present worms
the^e are distinctly present as a series of minute black dots, in two to four rows on each
side : this oculiferous area occupies about half the height of the prostomium on each
side. In some of my specimens, however, they are absent. And it has been noted
by Ehlers and other authors that in some species of Terebellids eyespots are sometimes
present, sometimes absent.
I think that Gravier must luive overlooked the fact that the ventral surface of
2nd and 3rd segments coalesce, though they are distinct laterally and dorsally, and
laterally the 2nd segment is very much compressed, and therefore quite short. Hp
states that the " flap " is borne by the 2nd segment. I find it distinctly on the
next. Also the first gill is said to be on the first segment, instead of, as I find it, on
*he 2nd.
Again, Gravier writes that "there is only one row of uncii\i." This is true for the
anterior and posterior segment-;, Init from about the 10th to the end of the thorax,
that is to segment 18, I find that there are two series of uucini close together and facing
alternately fore and aft, interdigitating with each other, ^o that they simidate a single
row till examined under a microscope.
The bristles of the 1st notopod have simple points, with a narrow flange on both
sides, which is not striated. But the bristles of the later segments are stouter, with a
narrow flange on one side and a broader one on the other, each faintly striated.
Apart from these slight discrepancies I think there is no doubt that the worms
before me are identical with those described by my French colleague.
Locality . —
Boat Harbour, 31-4 fathoms.
Distribution. — Off Terre Alexandre and Port Cironcision (ile Petermann).
Remarks. — Both Ehlers and Gravier, in discussing the allied form T. (Phyzelia)
fasciata Grube, show how difficult it is to define the genera and sub-genera
of this family; they give up in despair the attempt to set things right for
these exotic species, although Te St. Joseph has arrived at some apparently
satisfactory conclusions with regard to the European species.
In dealing with this species Gravier expresses himself as being unable
to decide whether it should come into the genus Polijmnia Mlmgrn, or Nicolea
or Scione, and yet finally he places it in Phyzelia, which has received different
limitations by various authors. Under the circumstances it may be as well
left in the genus Terebella lato sensu.
POLYCH^TA— BENHAM. 85
Genus Scione Malmgren.*
SCIOXK MIRABILIS Mclntosk.
Pista mirahiUs Mclntosli (1885), p. 4.)4, pi. L[, figs. 1, 2; pi. XXVII a,
fig. 34.
An imuamed tube, Mcintosh (1885), Introduction, p. 10, pi. XLiX, figs. 8, 9.
Scione spinifera Ehlers (1908), p. 15"2. pi. XX, figs. 10-14.
Scione sfinifem Gravier (1911), p. 134, pi. XII, fig. 156 (tube).
Scione spinifera Ehlers ( 1913), p. 561, pi. XLTV, fig. 7 (tube).
Scione mirabilis Ehlers (1913), p. 562.
(Plate 9, figs. 97-100.)
The material consists of seven individuals, two of which were still within their
tubes, the rest having been removed therefrom before preservation.
The tube is nearly straight with the upper free end bent downwards as figured by
previous authors. One tube measures 150 mm. along the curve, the other attains a
length of 240 mm. ; the lower end is lacking in both, but a greater portion is absent from
the longer one. The tube has a cylmdrical lumen. 5 mni. in diameter ; the external
surface is raised into four longitudinal ridges which bear the characteristic long spine-like
processes ; these are from 10-12 mm. in lei"igth in the upper region and decrease graduallv
towards the lower end to 1 mm., while in the lowest quarter they are absent.
In the upper part, for a distance of about 10-20 mm., the ridges die out and the
spines depart horn their regular linear arrangement, becoming scattered over the surface.
This region is of looser texture than the lower part, there being less mud adhering to the
basal membrane, and consequently, too, the wall is translucent.
Embedded in the mud wall are bundles of sponge spicules, such as Mcintosh
describes for Pista {Scione) mirabilis ; they are disposed circiUarly and closely parallel
to one another. They are present also in the " spines," where they are disposed length-
wise. On the surface of the tube waU and on the spines are various colonies of Polyzoa,
Hydrozoa, and a portion of what seems to be Rhahdopleura, which is unfortunatelv
poorly preserved and the polypides are either absent or indistinct.
The complete worm removed from the smaller of the two tubes has a body length
of 50 mm. for 92 segments ; its breadth anteriorly is 4 mm. thence tapering to the hinder
end. Most of the tentacles are lacking, and the few that remain are broken.
The largest specimen in the collection had already been removed from its tube
before preservation ; it is about 70 mm. in body length, to which 20 mm. is to be added
for the length of the tentacles ; its diameter is 7 mm., and the body contains about 90
segments. This specimen is twdsted in the abdominal region and is somewhat soft
further forwards, so that these dimensions are not absolutely correct. These specimens
are smaller than the individual of S. spinifera measured by Ehlers.
* Scione 13 another re ccupied name, according to Leiper. , -
86 AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.
The anatomy agrees with the account of S. s-pinifera given by Ehlers ; but as his
drawings of the animal are not very clear in certain points, I add a couple of somewhat
diagrammatically constructed figures in order to show the morphological relations of the
" lateral flaps," &c. (figs. 97, 98).
In 1913 Ehlers hesitatingly suggested that possibly the two sjiecies, *S'. spinifera
Ehlers and Scione {Pista) mirabilis Mcintosh, are identical, for in wi'iting of the specimen
of 8. mirabilis from Kaiser Wilhelm II Land, he remarks (p. 562) : — ■
" Nicht vollig gehobene Zweifel bestehen dariiber, ob die Wiirmer nicht
identisch mit der von mir im vorstehenden erwahnten ;S'. spinifera Ehl. sind."
He then goes on to discuss the few differences which are, as he terms them,
" insignificant," and I may add comments on the four points to which he pays
attention.
(1) " The differences in the structure of the tube may be due to differences
in the nature of the sea-bottom, and other conditions of the habitat."
The characteristic feature of the tube both of S. spinifeia and S. mirabilis is the
presence of long, slender, flexible processes or " spines " which project from its surface
and may be longer than the diameter of the tube.
In Mcintosh's species the tube is cylindrical and the spines appear to be scattered
all over the surface without any regular arrangement, but in the original account of
S. spinifera Ehlers states that they are arranged in longitudinal rows. The tube figured
by Gravier (pi. XII, fig. 156) as S. spinifera is likewise cylindrical with processes
irregularly disposed. But more usually in those worms attributed to Ehlers's species
they arise from definite ridges which extend almost throughout the length of the tube'
and these ridges give it a very characteristic appearance, which was first figured by
Mcintosh (though without a name) and later by Ehlers under the title S. spinifera. He
and Mcintosh found three such ridges, but in the present collection each of the two
tubes which I received has foirr ridges. I find that at about the region at which the tube
curves over at its upper end these ridges die out and the spines lose their linear arrange-
ment and extend u-regularly over the surface. Ehlers (1913) notes, too, that the ridges
die out at the lower end in his species, though this is not the case with those before me.
The material of wliich the tube is composed is a thin leathery meml^rane with
fine particles of nuid worked up \\'ith the secretion. These mud grains are arranged in a
very regular fashion, as described and figured by Mcintosh for his unnamed tube ; they
are disposed in narrow circles round the circumference, each circle overlapping the next
below. In S. mirabilis Mcintosh observed sponge spicules embedded in the mud,
closely arranged parallel to one another, around the tube ; and similar spicules contribute
to the support of the processes or spines where they are arranged lengthwise. These
spicules were also found by Ehlers in his specimen of 8. mirabilis (1913), but he did not
find them in the tube of 8. spinifera.
POLYCH^TA— BENHAM. 87
In tlie two tubes, however, from Commonwealth Bay, which agree in externals
\\'ith the latter species, these sponge spicules are present, and their arrangement agrees
precisely with that described by Mcintosh. There is thus a parallel series of form and
of detail in structure in the tubes of the two " species."
Ehlers, when comparing the two " species," points out that he had no information
as to whether his specimen of S. mirahilis was obtained in the same haul as his .S'. spinifera,
i.e., whether they occurred close together, though they came from the same locality;
nor had he any information as to the nature of the sea-bottom which would explain the
difference observable in the structure of the tubes.
But Mcintosh found that the base of some of the tuljes of S. mimbilis were em-
bedded in sponges, which would account partly for the small proportion of mud in his
tube-wall and wholly for the presence of sponge spicules.
A comparison of the sea-bottom at the localities at which the various specimens of
S. spinifera have been obtained does not give sufficient information, I think, to account
for the presence or absence of the spicules.
The " Challenger " *S'. mirahilis were got on a bottom of " greensand,"' the
" Valdivia " >S'. spinifera from bottoms of "blue mud," of "volcanic sand" and of
" mud," and Ehlers states that the tubes were covered with black and grey mud. The
" Challenger " S. spinifera tubes were obtained from " blue mud."
In this recent expedition the tubes came from a bottom of " granitic rock,
no ooze. ' Xo mention is made as to whether sponges were found at this station,
though it is quite possible that this was the case. If so, that would account for the
spicules in the wall of the tubes. Gravier does not mention whether he examined
the tubes for spicules, presumalily he did not, since they are not mentioned in the
original account of that species.
(2) " The stem of the gill in S. mirahilis in Mcintosh's ligm-e is longer than in
S. spinifera.''
But in the specimens from Commonwealth Bay which had been removed from
the tube before being preserved, I find that the stem is very short, broad and \\Tinkled
(fig. 97), and gives off two approximately equal branches ; it is almost exactly like
Ehlers' figure of S. spinifera. On the other hand, in a specimen which I extracted
from its tube, within which it had lieeu preserved, the gills are bent backward ; the stem
is long (fig. 98), as figured by Mcintosh for his species. The difference, then, between
the length of the stem of the gill, as observed by the previous authors, seems to be a
matter of greater or less contraction.
In the latter individual its position, flattened against the body and fully extended,
allows a careful study of its structure to be made. The stem divides into two unequal
branches, one of which seen^s to be a continuation of the stem, the other external to it;
each gives off other branches of varying lengths, which bear the terminal filaments.
Figure 98 is a careful drawing of the extended gill.
88 AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.
There is one point on which Ehlers makes no comment, and that is the fact that
Mcintosh states that the stem divides into three and that each of these splits into several
branches, whereas in S. spinifera, as figm-ed in 1908, tliere are only two main branches.
Perhaps it is a matter of small importance, but it may as well be referred to here. In
one of my specimens one of the two branches divides again soon after its origin, giving
the impression of three divisions. Mcintosh's figure shows at least five branches, which
I think is an error on the part of the artist.
(3) " Judging from Mcintosh's figure of the animal, a segment appears to be
intercalated between the two segments which bear the lateral ' flaps ' or lobes, and
his account is difficult to correlate mth the figure."
Ehlers, in describing his specimen of S. tnirabilis, finds no such intercalated
segment; the gill is on the 2nd segment, the lateral lobes on the 3rd and 4th as in
S. spinifera; the shape of the first flap is similar in the two forms, and is larger than the
second flap.
I have introduced a figm'e showing more diagrammatically than does Ehlers's
figvu:es the real arrangement of these segments. I have little doubt that Mcintosh's
figure is misleading.
(4) Ehlers has noted certain differences in the form of the uncinus as
described and figured by Mcintosh for S. mirabilis, and those he himself describes
for S. spinifera, in regard to the smaller denticles above the large fang. Mcintosh
. describes three denticles, but his figure (pi. XXVII A, fig. 34) shows at least foiu"
and perhaps a minute fifth. Ehlers in his specimen of S. mirabilis finds a single
tooth between the fang and the cap of small denticles, so that the uncinus appears
to be three-toothed when seen from the side. In ;S'. spinifera, according to
Ehlers, this intermediate tooth is absent.
In the specimens from Commonwealth Bay, I find a difference from l)oth these
accounts, or rather from all three, for instead of there being only one intermediate tooth
I find three rows of small teeth, of 2, 3 and 4. or sometimes of 3, 4 and 4 respectively,
between the fang and the cap of minute denticles (fig. 100). In a side view (fig. 99) the
uncinus is more like the figure of one of " the anterior hooks " given l)y Mcintosh than to
the figure illustrating Ehlers's account.
Some further points of comparison may be made.
The dimensions of the worms have perhaps little value in deciding their identity,
yet they may be included in this analysis. Ehlers's type of »S'. spinifera was imperfect ;
but in 1913 he gives the dimensions of a complete individual.
Body
Di
amotor.
Nuiiibcr of
length.
segments.
Ehlers
105
6
134
Gravier
75
. —
91
" Aurora "
70
7
90
S. mirabilis Mcintosh
58
2-
—
POLYCHiETA--BENHAM. 89
Dimensions of tubes — S. mirahilis, Mcintosh, 1 ;"0-l fiO mm. by 4 mm. ; F>. spinifera,
Thiers, Gravier and myself, 150-240 mm. by 5 mm.
Geographically and bathymetrically, the two " species " overlap. Both were
obtained from Kaiser Wilhelm TI Land ; and 8. spinifera extends up the west coast of
South America to Valparaiso (Mcintosh), while 8. mirahilis occurs up the east coast as
far North as Rio de la Plata (Mcintosh).
The depth at which the two forms have been obtained varies from 110 fathoms
(" Aurora ") to :i534-7 fathonis (" Valdivia "). These have the " spinifera " form of
tube, while the 8. mirahilis form comes from 212 fathoms (Elilers) to 600 fathoms
(Mcintosh).
It is then evident that Ehlers was fully justified in liLs expression of doubt as to
the distinctness of the two species, and it must of course retain the name bestowed upon
it by Mcintosh.
Locality . —
Commonwealth Bay —
Station 2,318 fathoms (two).
,, 8,120 fathoms (four, the one studied is a male).
,, 12,110 fathoms (a female distended with eggs).
Distribution. — Off Valparaiso, off Eio de la Plata (Mcintosh), south of Bouvet
Island, Kaiser Wilhelm II Land ( Ehlers) , Graham's Land ( Gravier).
Genus le.bna Malmgren.
Le.ena arenilega Elders.
Ehlers (1913), p. 504, pi. XLIV, figs. 8-13.
(Plate 9, figs. 95, 96.)
Two specimens only were obtained during this expedition, which is in contrast
witli the abundance of the worm off Kaiser Wilhelm TI Land.
The present specimens show some apparent differences in the structure of th
" head " from that described by Ehlers, but whether these are due to differences of
preservation, or of interpretation, or of state of development, or are specific, it is difficult
to decide when so few iiidividuals are available. But since the worms agree in all
essential features with his account I attribute them to his species, but add figures to
illustrate the apparent discrepancies.
The tube is long and narrow, measuring 100 nim. in length by 3 mm. in width.
It is built up of a single layer of transparent, colom'less sand-grains with a slight admixture
of otlier material, such as sponge spicules : the outer surface is rough, and the grains
seem very loosely adherent. It is more or less undulating, as if it had been coiled amongst
other objects.
90 AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.
The contained worm measures only 40 mm., exclusive of the tentacles, which add
another 10-12 mm. to the length. It is nearly cylindrical, tapering only slightly
posteriorly.
The body contains about 70 segments ; the intersegmental grooves, however, are
very indistinct posteriorly, so that there may be more.
The tentacular platform (fig. 95) is low, and the post-tentacular region bears an
irregularly double row of eye spots laterally, but this becomes a single row across the
dorsum ; the right and left rows are continuous, whereas Ehlers found a short dorsal
gap separating the two groups.
The first segment is very short on the dorsal surface, but becomes swollen and
enlarged laterally (figs. 95, 96), projecting forward here. This glandular thickening
extends almost to the mid-line on the ventral surface, but the right and left lobes become
narrower as they approach one another and terminate in rounded lobes, separated by a
very narrow, short, non-glandular area.
It is here that I find a difference from Ehlers' account. He represents a large
oval, forwardly-directed " flap " of much greater extent, and this, instead of tapering
off towards the mid-ventral line, is here almost as long as it is higher up the sides, and
the two lobes overlap.
The second segment is likewise short on the dorsal surface, but is swollen so as to
form a transverse ridge, which crosses the dorsum and extends down each side as far as
the margin of the first gland shield. It is quite a definite structure ; but in Ehlers'
figure it seems to be confluent with the flap of the first segmeiit. Possibly these structures
are not at their full development in the specimens before me.
The first notopod is borne on the third segment, and the uncini commence on the
fourth. On each of the segments 5, 6, and 7 there is, above the notopod, near the hinder
margin of the segment, a low but distinct nephridial papilla.
There are 16-17 bundles of bristles, but there are only ten well-developed
notopodial outgrowths.
The uncinigerous neuropods are short throughout the worm, and lateral in
position. Anteriorly, as in the 15th segment, there are 19 uncini, but further back th.e
number is reduced to 6 or 7. The uncini agree pi-ecisely with the description given by
Ehlers, and differ from those of L. abranchiata Malmgren and from L. wanddensis Gravier.
The ventral gland shields number 1 1 , and are quadrate in form, except the first
four, which are narrower transverse glandular bands.
Locality.—
Commonwealth Bay, 15 fathoms (with T. ehlersi and Th. antarcticus).
Distribution. — Kaiser Wilhelm II Land.
POLYCHiETA— BENHAM. 91
Genus Thelepus Leuckart.
Thelepus setosus Quatrefage^.
Phenacia setosa Quatrefages (1865), vol. II, p. 376.
Neottis spectabilis Verrill (1875).
Neottis antarctica Mcintosh (1876), p. 321; (1879), p. 261, pi. XV, figs. 14, 15;
(1885), p. 472, pi. LII, fig. 1.
TJidepus mdntoshi Grube (1877), p. 544.
Tlielefus spectabilis Ehlers (1897), p. 133, and his later works.
Tlielepus spectahiUs Gravier (1906), p. 53.
Thelepus setosus Fauvel ( 1916), p. 466 (for full list of synonyms).
This Terebellid, which, as vaW be seen, has already been described from the
subantarctic under a variety of names, has now been identified by Fauvel with the
European species. He had under his eyes specimens from the Falkland Islands and
examples from the Straits of Dover, and arrives at the conclusion — "le Thelepus
spectabilis de I'hemisphere sud ne pent etre en rien differencie du TMepus setosus de
la Manche."
I can now add another locality, extending its range to Macquarie Island. Some
of these, which were well preserved, were from Garden Bay, others from the North End ;
some were found attached to rocks below low water, others were from sand under stones
at low water.
Distribution. — Strait of Dover, coast of Ireland: Kerguelen (Grube, Mcintosh);
Bouvet Island, Marion Island (Mcintosh); Fuegia, South Chili (Ehlers);
Port Charcot, He Booth Wandel (Gravier): Falkland Islands (Pratt, Fauvel);
S.W. Australia (Fauvel (1917), p. 268).
Thelepus antarcticus Kinberg.
Kinberg(1866), p. 345.
Willey (1902), p. 278, pi. XLV, fig. 6.
Ehlers (1901), p. 210 (repeats Kinberg's record).
The brief diagnosis given by Kinberg is scarcely sufficient to enable one to
visualise the species, but the few facts he does give agree with those exhibited by the
specimens in this collection, and I have no doubt that they belong to that species which
has hitherto been recorded, since 1866, only by Willey.
In view of the enormous numbers that were obtained by the expedition (in one
jar there are more than one hundred individuals), it is very remarkable that none of the
recent expeditions to the Southern seas has met with it. ;'
92 AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.
It is very similar to the .Northern TMepus cincinnatus Fabricius, as Willey has
pointed out, with which indeed he suggested that it is conspecific. But there appear
to be a few differences from that Northern form, which has recently been described at
length by Mcintosh ( 1915, p. 26).
Under the circumstances, it seems worth while to give the essential facts about
the worm.
The animal grows to a large size, frequently attaining a body length of 140 mm.
or even more (in one specimen it reaches 190 mm.). To this length of body must be
added that of the tentacles, which measure some 30-40 mm., though of course they are
much coiled and contracted, so that in life they nuist exceed tliis measurement.
The mimber of segments is 90-100 ; the diameter of the worm first mentioned is
7-5 mm.
The sides of the body are thick, rough, brownish, and very glandular ; and this
is continuous with the large ventral gland shields.
The cephalic collar or platform which bears the tentacles, carries num.erous
eye-spots over its entire extent.
There are two bunches of gill filaments on each side of segments 2 and 3, which
latter is also the first chaetigerous segment. Each bunch consists of a single transverse
row of simple unbranched filaments— about 15 in a row on each side in the first gill —
leaving a small gap in the median dorsal line equal to aboiit the width of three filaments.
The anterior gill extends downwards to below the level of the notopod. The second gill
is smaller, and consists of some twelve filaments, and the dorsal gap is slightly wider.
In twenty-five individuals, taken at random out of a jar containing more than one
hundred, every one had two pairs of gills. Not one of all those examined showed any
variation in this respect, which seems to justify the use of the genus Thele/pus for two-
gilled forms, or at any rate to refute the idea that variation in this matter commonly
occurs in a species.
The first notopod occiirs on the thii'd segment and is rejjeated on every segment
throughout the worm, though in the hinder ones the number of chsetae becomes much
fewer (in T. cincinnatus, Mcintosh states that the notopod is absent in the last forty
segments). The first neuropod lies in the 5th segment. It is of considerable extent,
reaching down to the margin of the gland shield. But after the 10th segment it begins
to dwindle in height and at the same time to project outwards, so that by the 20th
segment the neuropod has quite a short vertical extent not more than twice that of
the notopod, and so remains throughout the greater part of the animal, as oar-lilce
appendages.
The margin of the anterior neuropods is darkly pigmented. The cluiet* of the
first notopod and of those that follow are of two kinds, as in T. setosus.
POLYCH^TA— BENHAM. 93
The imciui are uiiiserial, small, closely-set, and numerous, there being at least sixty
in one of the posterior lobes. When seen from the side the uncinus presents two teeth
above the great fang, one large and one small, as IMcIntosh (1915, p. 29) states for
T. cincinnatus, there is but a " single tooth," " though occasionally a minute third
tooth is visible." I find that when viewed from above the fang is crowned by a ro-vr
of three teeth usually of approximately equal size, and a single minute tooth placed
eccentrically outside this series ; sometimes two of these minute teeth occur.
The gland shields number 10-13, they are not at all distinctly defined, being
rough and traversed by furrows. In T. cincinnatus Mcintosh gives 30 shields. I
looked carefully into this, and found not more than 13 in any specimen.
The tube, as usual, is membranous, covered with sand-grains of very varied sizes ;
in some cases they are so coarse as to deserve the name '' pebbles," so that the outer
surface is extremely rough and uneven ; in others, the grains are finer and more uniform
in size and the surface much snroother. I\Iixed with the sand-grains are fragments of
Ijrown or green algee, and occasionally jiortions of Echinid tests.
Localities. —
Boat Harbour, 25-30 fathoms.
Commonwealth Bay, Station C, 15-20 fathoms (very abundant ; bottom rock,
with small amount of brown alga?).
Distribution. — York Bay,'Bucket Island, Magellan Strait (Kinberg) : Cape Adare,
S . Victoria Land ( Willey).
"^ Remarks. — According to I'e St. Joseph, " Thelepus " may have one, two, or three
pairs of gills. Mcintosh says of " Neottis " that it differs from Thelepus in
having three gills, whereas Malmgren's diagnosis defines Thdepus as having
two pairs only. Willey, and I agree with hinr, points out the confusion that
ensues from the wider use of the word ; but modern \\Titers continue to use it
in this extended sense. It is evident that this large common antarctic form is
common off Adelie Land, and differs from T. setosus.
Fauvel has identified T. spectabilis with T. setosus Quatrefages, and in a
later paper ( 1917, p. 269), accepting Willey's suggestion that Ivinberg's species
is conspecific with the Northern T. cincinnatus, goes even further, and, relying
on the possibility that in the same species the gills may vary from two to three
pairs, puts forward the view that the latter may be identical with T. setosus :
" Mais ceci n'est encore qu'une simple hypothese."
The fact that in dozens of this Southern form, whether it lie T. cincinnatus
or not, there is no sign of any such variation shows that this " hypothese " is
still unproven, and that for the present the two species, T. setosus and
T. antarcticus (or T. cincinnatus), are distinct.
94 AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.
Genus LEPREA Mdmgren.
Leprea streptochaeta Ehlers.
Ehlers(1897),p. 130,pl. VIII, figs. 203-205.
Ehlers (1913), p. 560.
Fauvel(1916), p. 465.
A single individual of this species was received from Macquarie Island, where it
lives in rock pools.
It was still invested in its sandy tube, and the animal, which is somewhat coiled,
as both Ehlers and Fauvel found to be the case, measures about 45 mm. with an anterior
breadth of 3 mm., tapering posteriorly.
I have nothing to add to the full accounts already published.
Distribution. — Kerguelen, Falkland Islands, Uschuaia.
Genus Polycirrus Gruhe.
POLYCIRRUS HAMILTON I S'p. nOV.
' (Plate 9, figs. 101-106.)
A number of well-preserved worms, enclosed in tubes of dark sand-grains, were
found by Mr. Hamilton attached to rocks at low water on the Macquarie Island.
They are described as being " pink in colour."
The worms are for the most part a good deal twisted, some are broken, but
amongst them a few that are complete.
A complete specimen measures from 25-35 mm. in length, with a breadth of
2 mm. One mature female, filled with eggs, has a length of 25 mm. and contains 55
segments ; another of 35 mm. has 50 segments.
The numerous tentacles are of considerable length.
There are 30-34 bristle-bearing segments, which commence on the 2nd. The
uncinigerous neuropods commence in one case on the 7th, in another on the 11th
chsetigerous segment.
There are 13 paii's of gland shields preceded by a median shield on the first or
peristomial segment (fig. 101). This gland is pentagonal in shape with its lateral
angles somewhat rounded ; ^t is crossed by a curved shallow furrow from side to side.
Then follow the series of paired glands separated by a narrow but deep groove mesially.
The first of these, which lies on the first chsetigerous segment, is subtriangular, with
its anterior side fitting against the latero-posterior border of the pentagonal gland and
its apex directed mesially. The remainder are more or less quadrate. These are
followed by three widely separated pairs of smaller size.
tOLYCH^TA— BENHAM. 95
Below each of the first eight notopods is a small nephridial papilla, lying just
outside the gland shields.
The notopods commence on the second segment and are repeated along the
greater part of the worm, i.e., for 30-34 segments ; they are rather prominent, with
the posterior lip produced beyond the anterior (fig. 102). The chatse are of two
kinds — (a) those of the usual type with an synimetrical apex, a flange on one side,
the sloping margin being finely striated (tig. 1()3) ; and (6) more slender, symmetrical
and without a flange, but with very fine denticulations along each edge (fig. 104).
There are about ten of each kind in the anterior notopods, but posteriorly the number
of each becomes fewer, and the slender form (b) may be absent.
The neuropods commence below the 12th or 13th iiotopod ; the uneini are
uniserial; each has a short manubrium or base, and bears two teeth (fig. 105) \\dth
a thin curved undivided hood above them (fig. 106). Behind the teeth there is a small
projection from the base as usual, but I cannot, in spite of careful search, detect any
knob springing from the base in front of the teeth, such as Gravier figures for P. insignis ;
not even so much of a hump as Mcintosh figures for Ereutho kerguelensis .
Locality . —
Macquarie Island, Garden Bay.
Remarks. — -This worm does not agree with any that have been described from the
Antarctic or Subantarctic seas. It bears some resemblance to P. insignis
Gravier ( 1906, p. 54), in which, however, the first notopod is on the foiu'th
segment and there are 11 notopods only, >o that it should be placed in the
genus Ereutho, ii we follow Malmgren ; but Gravier accepts De St. Joseph's
views on this matter.
Genus Ereutho Malmgren.
Ereutho Antarctica Willey.
Willey (1902), p. 281, pi. XLII, fig. 6; pi. XLVI, fig. 6.
Polycirrus kerguelensis Mcintosh (1885), p. 475, pi. XXVIII a, fig. 22.
Polycirrus kerguelensis Gravier (1911), p. 141, pi. XI, fig. 136.
nee. Ereutho kerguelensis Ehlers (1913), p. 365.
In the " Challenger " Report Mcintosh describes two species of Polycirrids from
Kerguelen, namely Ereutho kerguelensis (p. 474), and on the next page, Polycirrus
kerguelensis. The latter was an ill-preserved fragment, and no details about its
structure are given except that the uncinus is characterised by a very long manubrium,
and bears two stout short teeth.
Willey, in his report on the " Southern Cross " annelids gives a brief account
of a Polycu'rid from S. Victoria Land which exhibits precisely similar uneini, but the
d6 AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.
worm has but 11 chaetigerous segments bearing notopodial cha?t8e, followed bv tlie
uneinigerous segments ; and therefore falls into Malmgren's genus Ereutho. He
named it Ereutho antarclica.
Consequently, if reliance be jilaced wholly on the form of the uncinus, Wiiich
certainly is quite peculiar, Mcintosh's Polycirrus kerguelensis is in all probability this
Ereutho ; but he had already given the specific name " kerguelensis " to' an Ereutho
which has quite a different form of uncinus. Hence a new specific name is needed,
and we must adopt Willey's name " antarctica."
Gravier (1911) describes, under the title "Polycirrus kerguelensis Mclnt.," a
worm which has 11 chietigerous and 25 uneinigerous segments, whose uncini agree
precisely with the figures of Mcintosh and Willey, and he remarks (p. 143) that it is
e ctremely probable that it is identical with Willey's spgcies.
Later, Ehlers (1913), under the title " Ereutho kerguelensis Mcintosh " (which he
regards as synonymous with Willey's E. antarctica), describes a worm wth uncini
agreeing with that figured for Ereutho kerguelensis (not Polycirris kerguelensis) of
Mcintosh, but differing from that figured by Willey for his species.
Ehlers states that the only difference between the two is that Mcintosh records
13 chaetigerous segments, while Willey gives the number as 11. Ehlers himself finds
both 11 and 12 ; and as the number of notopodial segments is variable, he concludes
tliat the two species are identical. But this leaves aside altogether the marked
difference between the uncini in the two cases.
Ehlers refers to the conspicuous anterior lip of the anterior notopods produced
into a " papilliform process " (Mcintosh), but neither author figures it. I do not see
any such striking feature in the present worms ; the lips are nearly of a size.
The present collection contains specimens of this species, without their tubes.
The wornis are for the most part coiled, and measure about 12-15 mm. with a diameter
of 3 mm. anteriorly.
There are 11 segments bearing notopods with capillary chaeta?, followed by
25-30 segments carrying short projecting uneinigerous neuropods. The first notopod
is on the thii'd segment above the first pair of ventral gland shields.
A mounted piece of the thoracic pre-uncinigerous region shows none of the
peculiar hooks below the capilliform chc-etse such as Ehlers describes in his Ereutho
kerguelensis .
The present worms agree geiierally with the account given by (Iravier.
Locality. —
Boat Harbom", 3i fathoms.
Distribution. — Kerguelen (Mcintosh), South Victoria Land (Willey) Petermann,
' and South Shetlands (Gravier).
POLYCH^TA—BENHAM. 9/
Family A:\rPHARETIDyE.
Genus Phyllocomus Gruhe*
PhyllocomUvS dibranchiata sp. )tov.
(Plate 10, figs. 107-123.)
A worm whicli was dredged from a depth of 157 fathoms, seems to form the
type of a new species of this rare genus.
It is distinctly differentiated into thorax and abdomen, the fornier bearing both
notopodial cha?ta3 and incinigei ous neuiopods, the latter presenting only the
neufopods, whi di project la*:erally like wings or oars.
The specimen (fig. 107) is yery well preserved, and appears to be strongly
contracted anteriorly ; it is a pale yellowish colour, while the parapods and glands are
pale brownish and the ventral surface of the al)domen rather darker.
It is fortunately com])lete, though the hinder end appears to be regenerated, as
no uncini can be detected on the last ten segments.
Its total length is 45 mm., with a width of 11 mm. anteriorly and a height of
8 mm. The body tapers backwards slowly, so that at the commencement of the
abdomen it nreasures 6 mm. in width.
The worm contains 60 segments, with head and anal funnel, which is surrounded
by a number of short cirri (fig. 115). There are 15 notopods with long pale yellow
chsetae; 14 of these thoracic segments are glandular across the whole ventral surface,
though distinct gland shields are not evident. The anterior glands spread from the
neurojiods of one side to those of the other, which are here separated by a space of
8 mm. The last three or four are traversed Ijy a definite furrow in the middle line.
There are indications of two additional glands behind these.
The head (figs. 108, 109) is very obliquely truncated, so that its anterior face is
nearly vertical; the jJi'ostomium has the form of a sub-circular plate sloping downwards
from the dorsal surface of the l)ody, nearly at right angles to the body axis; the lower
extremity of this plate is free, and its edge is thin. This prostomial plate is of firm
consistency, almost chitinoid; it is tinted in the middle with reddish browai pigment,
is slightly convex from side to side in its middle, and slightly concave from its front
backwards, so that its free rounded edge projects horizontally.
On each side, between the prostomial plate and the curved peristomial ridge, is
a narrow elongated dejaression from whicli a slight papilliform elevation rises. Grube
suggests that this is a secretory organ; perhaps, however, it represents the ciliated
*" Phyllocomus " looks like a masculine word and appears to refer to the " foliaceous " form of the gill ; but Grube
uses the feminine "crocea" for the species. I therefore consulted my Classical colleague, Professor Adams, who informs
me that there is a rare Greek word " komos " meaning a " bundle or sheaf," which is feminine : presumably Grube used
this rare word.
•83892— N
08 AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.
nuchal organ of many Polychaeta. Just anterior to this, but only visible from the
ventral surface, is a little patch of pigment a short distance from the anterior margin
of the prostomial plate; this probably represents an eye-spot (fig. 113).
The prostomial j^late is continuous dorsally and laterally with a curved semi-
circular ridge, from which it is separated by a shallow furrow, but this ridge is also
continued downwards across the ventral surface to form the lower lip, which is closely
pressed against the upper lip formed by the prostomial plate, the anterior edge of which
it does not reach (fig. 10 J).
Whether one is to regard this curved ridge as the hinder region of the prostomium,
Such as is described for several Ampharetids, or as the peristomium, seems uncertain;
but from its relations I take the latter view.
The ventral region of this peristomium is produced forwards in the middle line,
so that a median and two lateral regions of the lower lip are distinctly marked off from
one another (fig. 113); the median lobe has a straight transverse edge which is abruptly
limited on each side by a nearly longitudinal margin, that turns sharply outwards to
form the anterior edge of the lateral region of the lip. When the animal is seen from
above, this lower lip is invisible, since it is overhung by the prostomial plate, and
even when viewed from below, its base is partly concealed by the forward extension of
the ventral surface of the following segment.
The branchiferous segment, the second of the body, is very much compressed
on its dorsal portion, so as to form an upstanding fold; its ventral portion is thick and
glandular and conceals in great part the lower lip.
On the dorsal surface this segment is rather longer than the peristomium, and
carries a pair of admedian, upstanding gills of unusual form and structure ( fig. 109).
Each gill is 4 mm. in height, i.e., about half the height of the body at this point; it
consists of a rather thick axis, which bears along its whole length four undulating
tough membranes, two on the external and two along its internal or medial surface.
The membranes are broad below and taper distally so that the form of each gill may
be described as quadiifoliaceous and lanceolate, in Grube's terms.
The two gills are connected at their bases by a low transverse membraneous
ridge (perhaps exaggerated by the contraction of the body), which is continued outwards
and downwards almost to the level of the notopods of the foUowmg segments.
Passing backwards and outwards from this ridge, commencing behind each
gill, is a deep channel, bounded by a couple of narrow walls which, about midway
in their course towards the base of the thii'd notopod, unite above the channel and
convert it into a tunnel. This tunnel appears to end blindly (fig. 110).
Two quite similar but successively shorter structures pass from the branchiferous
ridge towards the second and first notopod, above which they respectively terminate.
POLYCHiETA— BEXHAM. 99
These structures appear to be the " areolae " of Grube's account of Phyllocomus
crocea (1877, p. 543), and the relative disposition of them seenis to correspond to
the three structures figured by Mcintosh (1885), pi. XLVll, fig. 11), which he
interprets as the bases of lost " gills."
These three pairs of channels and tunnels appear to be unique, and T regret that,
having only a single specimen of the worm, I am unable to examine them by sections.
I have no suggestion to make as to their purpose. The worm is well preserved, and
there is no evidence of rupture here, no suggestion that any structure, such as a gill,
has been broken away ; the margins of the channels are rounded and smooth, and appear
quite natural. At any rate, under the highest power of a dissecting microscope I can
see no sign of any interruption in the continuity of the surface.
The tentacles, as is usually the case in the family, are invaginated into the
buccal cavity. They were exposed by slitting up the side of the body along a bne
corresponding to the junction of the lower lip with the peristunium (fig. 11.3). Tien
numerous filamentous tentacles are seen directed backwards along the roof of a cavity,
which I suppose is the buccal cavity; they are borne by a rounded ridge, which extends
across the base of the prostomium, curving forwards on each side till nearly in the line
of the lateral margin of the lower lip (fig. 116).
Within the lower lip, along its base, is a second rounded ridge which connects
right and left ^\•ith the tentacular ridge; it is apparently a sphincter muscle, and may
be exaggerated by the contracted .vtate of the worm.
The tentacles are 10 mm. in length and are united to one another for a distance
of about 3 mm. from their origin, where they are only indicated by lines separated bv
shallow furrows. The proximal portion of the tentacles is surrounded by a thin
membranous flap, 1 mm. in height, springing from the tentacular ridge; and when
the tentacles are lifted up a line of brown-red pigment-dots is seen close to its free
margin on its tentacular surface; fiirther, a second line of darker spots lies along its
base, close to the roots of the tentacles (fig. 117).
The body.— The dorsal surface is smooth, annulate and without inter-segmental
furrows, but the segments are distinct enough laterally and ventrally ; the body is
very strongly arched, so that the notopods are directed upwards ; the third segment,
like the next two, is nuich narrower than the following, though whether this is again
due to the strong contraction of the worm seems doubtful, in light of the statement Ijv
Grube that in his species these three segments are shorter than the rest.
The third segment carries the first notopod. which is smaller than the following,
and bears only a few cha4a?. The next two notopods are likewise small, but the number
of chajta? increases : the maximum is attained at about the sixth or seventh, and this
is retained until the fourteenth.
The bristles are long, stout and of a golden-yellow colour : they are arranged in
a smgle vertical series with longer ones above and successively smaller ones below.
100 AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.
Microscopical study of them, under varyiiig conditions and from different
aspects, reveals a new type of bristle ; new not only to this family but, as I think, new
to the class.
Some time previously I had made a drawing of one of the chaeta? from a group
separated out and freshly mounted in glycerine; it was symmetrical, finely pointed
with a narrow flange on each side, and very similar to that figured by Favivel (1897)
for Amfharete grubei (pi. XVIT, fig. 24.) But amongst them T found others in which
the bristle is curved and has only one rather broader flange. I supposed therefore
that there were two kinds of chaetse in the bundle.
Some months later, when preparing this account for piil)lication, 1 had occasion
to refer to my preparations, one of which was in Canada Balsam. I was surprised to
see that all the cheetee are alike, curved, with a single flange. Wishing to ascertain how
I could have been deceived in my earlier examination, I cut off a fresh parapod, sep-
arated out the cheetse and made a new mount in glycerine.
Again I saw in most of the cha'tse two narrow flanges. I then pressed the cover-
slip so that the chseta^ might be flattened out a little ; now all of them had a single
flange. I then lifted the coverslip, turned the cha>tae about and re-examined them.
Again I saw several with the two flanges.
A careful study under a high power informed me that the chteta really has three
flanges, two narrow ones lying in one plane, symmetrically arranged, and a third broader
one in a plane at right angles to them ; and in this position the chseta is curved.
Having made this discovery, it was easy to detect the three flanges in some of the
chaetfe, and I have drawn one of them (fig'. 118-120).
To what extent this observation may vshed light on discrepancies in the accounts
of ch»ta? in some families, e.g., the Terebellidte, I cannot say. It is evident that a
renewed study of the bristles in certain families is desirable.
The ventral surface of the thorax is nearly flat, and traversed by a wide shallow
median furrow, which increases in depth posteriorly, and after the last gland shield
becomes very deep but narrower; the margin of the furrow is formed by the rounded
muscular ridge on each side.
The uncinigerous neuropods commence below the 4th notopod. Those on the
anterior segments of the thorax are vertical ridges, limited to the sides of the body,
and originating near the hinder boundary of the segments; their edges rise only slightly
above the surface. In the hinder segments each neuropod becomes more prominent,
thick and fleshy, whfle in the abdomen they are narrower and become flap-like (fig.
114). The neuropod is now a quadrangular flap directed backwards and outwards;
its free edge carries the uncini. On its upper surface near the body wall is a small
rounded papilliform upgro^\'th (which is, perhaps, a dorsal cirrus). By the 12th
abdominal the neuropods are already much longer and project still further; the dorsal
POLYCH^TA— BENHAM. 101
" cirrus " has increased in size, and has become sub-cylindrical ; the distal upper
angle of the foot becomes produced into a distal cirriform process ( I the "' lip "' of the
chaetophore), in addition to the dorsal " cirrus" (fig. 121).
The neuropods decrease in size posteriorly, and the inferior angle becomes more
marked.
The general form of the neuropod is similar to that occurring in other Ampharetids,
but the presence of both the proximal " papilla " and the distal " supra-uncinal
process " seems unusual. The proximal papilla, which I have termed " cirrus," is
usually regarded as equivalent to a vestigial notopod: and the distal process to the
dorsal cirrus (cf. Fauvel (1897), P]hlers (1887) p. 220).
The uncinus has five teeth in a single series, and a small prominence between the
smallest of these and the rounded upcurved extremity of the plate (figs. 122. 123) ;
it is quite similar to that figured for P. crocea by Mcintosh ( 1885), pi. xxvi a, tig. 25).
The structure of the gill (figs. Ill, 11 2\ Although the condition of preservation
is not sufficiently good to allow a thorough study of the gill to be made, the
examination of a short series of transverse sections enables me to give an account of
its more striking features.
The gill axis is traversed by a canal, whose wall is composed cliiefly of muscle.
Externally there is a layer of tall columnar cells bearing a thick cuticle; within this
is a thin circular coat of muscle, which envelopes a thicker coat of longitudinally
arranged muscle fibres. This does not seem to be limited very definitely internally,
for there is a layer of loose connective tissue, in which are scattered irregularly a number
of small round nuclei. At places in the series of sections I believe that I can detect
the remains of a thin membrane forming the lining of the axial cavity; but the tissue
is here broken and imperfectly preserved, and it may even be that the canal is an
artifact, and that the axis is occupied by a core of loose connective tissue.
Rumaing along the wall of the axis at two opposite points is a blood vessel, lying
apparently in the longitudinal muscle coat, but in places it projects into the cavity.
The folia or gill membranes are, of course, cut transversely; the central part
consists of comiective tissue, enveloped in tlie epidermis. I can see no cilia, though
perhaps this is due to the state of preservation. A series of blood vessels is cut across,
lying close to one another along each side, underneath the epidermis. They give to
the section a very characteristic appearance, and seem to l^e connected across the
folium; but I was unable to trace out precisely how or where they communicate with
the axial blood vessels.
Locality, —
Commonwealth Bay, Station 3, 157 fathoms.
Remarks.— That the genus PhyUocomus is rare is evident from the fact that
although it was established by Grube as long ago as 1877 for the species
102 AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.
P. crocea, it has only been recorded since that date in the " Challenger "
report. Grube's material appears to have been but a single specimen, which
was obtained between Heard Island and the Crozets. That collected by the
" Challenger " came from Kerguelen.
I regard the present as a different species since Grube describes two
pairs of gills in some detail, and he makes no mention of the four membranes
springing from the axis; he describes the gill as foUaceous " quasi lanceolati."
Mcintosh gives a brief account of a mutilated anterior end of a worm which
he ascribes to Grube's species. His figure (pi. XLVII, fig. 11), agrees in
general form quite closely with the worm herein described, but is without
any gills. In the text he writes (p. 427), " the next segment bears dorsally
the marks of four branchial processes on each side."
His figure shows three paii's of pit-lilce structures, which are no doubt
the " channels " that I describe above, and which I suppose Grube refers to
as " areolfe." Mcintosh seems, however, to interpret them as the base, of
gills. They have the same relation to one another and the same position on
the segments as I have described. It may be very likely that he had before
him the present species.
As both these accounts are brief, and as only one figure of this
interesting genus has been published, it has seemed to me worth while to give
rather a detailed description of the worm.
Genus Amythas, gen. nov.*
Amythas membranifera, sp. nov.
(Plate 10, figs. 124-132.)
A single individual of this remarkable worm was obtained from a depth of 325
fathoms in Commonwealth Bay.
It is imperfect posteriorly, lacking, however, only a few segments, and consists
of a head and thirty segments, measuring 60 mm. in length, with an anterior diameter of
12 mm., which diameter decreases posteriorly till at the end of the fragment it is only
5 mm. The anterior region is a good deal contracted, and the animal was ruptured
about half-way along its length, and broke into two pieces on being handled.
As in other genera, the body is divisible into two regions, thoracic and abdominal :
the former is indicated by the seventeen pairs of notopods with capilliform chaetae, which
are absent in the abdomen. The thoracic region appears to be strongly contracted, so
that probably the dimensions of the worm just given are not quite correct. The whole
♦ The name is formed by transferring the initial " S " of Samytha to the end. '
POLYCH^TA— BENHAM. 103
dorsal surface is very convex, and the segmentation is obscured by numerous closely
set annulations. The ventral surface of the thorax is highly glandular, but no definite
" gland shields " are delimited, as the glandular modification of the integument extends
across the ventral surface from right to left unicinigerous nueropods: l:)ut on the last
three segments the outlines of the glands are evident.
In the abdomen the ventral surface is deeply concave, crossed, however, by
segmental rounded, transverse ridges.
The prostomium (figs, 124, 12.5) consists of two portions, viz — (a) an anterior
freelv projecting flap overhanging the mouth: and (b) a posterior thickened transverse
fold, which is almost entirely hidden by the basal portion of the second or branchi-
ferous segment.
The prostomial flap, or upper lip, is slightly trilobed, the middle lobe being more
prominent than the later regions, from which it is marked of! by a slight notch on each
side. The middle lobe is inclined forwards and upwards, and has a somewhat thickened
free edge. On raising the prostomial flap, or on looking into the mouth from in front
(fig. 127), the base of the prostomium is seen to be continuous, with a transverse lobu-
lated structure, or "' supra-oral arch,"' which is separated from it by a furrow. The
right and left extremities of this arch touch the upper part of the lower lip on either
side ; the median portion of it is smooth, and traversed by a number of fine furrows
radiatuig from its base forwards towards its edge; the lateral portions are thick and
swollen.
The buccal segment or per'stomium is represented dorsally by a rounded trans-
verse ridge, overlapped and concealed by the branchiferous segment, Ventrally,
however, it is produced forwards to form a great lower lip, which is separated from the
lateral region of the prostomial flap by a deep, horizontal cleft on each side, and it is
evidently very mobile (fig. 126).
Between the upper and lower lips there projects a folded membrane (fig. 127),
which occupies the entii'e oral cavity. At first I supposed this to be a part of the gut
everted, but found on dissection that it has the following relations, from which it is
clear that it represents the series of tentacles of other Ampharetids. The free edge of
this ■' tentacular membrane " is thickened in the median region, but becomes thinner
towards each side. It is folded much in the way that a partially closed fan is folded,
but the folds are few and irregular. It arises from the under surface and posterior
margin of the " supra-oral arch '" above mentioned (fig. 12S), which is thus seen to
correspond to the tentacle-beariiag ridge of other genera. The line of orighi of the
tentacles is at about the level of the junction of the arch with the prostomjal flap. At
this poiiat — as was seen by slitting open the body wall — the buccal cavity (or oesop-
hagus ?) con^mences ; this Ls a tube with a thick, muscular wall, whose inner surface is
thro\\Ti into a number of ruga?. Its floor is produced forwards to form an internal lip^
such as that figured by Fauvel (1897) for AmpJiarete <jrubei.
104 AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.
This tentacular membrane, then, has the same topographical relations as the
bundle of filamentous tentacles in other genera of the family, audit is unfortunate that,
having only this single individual, I am unable to study its structure as fully as it
deserves.
Following the peristomium is the branchiferous segment (fig-.. 12 t, 125, 126). Its
dorsal surface is raised up as a transverse fold, which overhangs the peristomium and
the posterior portion of the prostomium. It is continued downwards as an ordinary
segment, but is without chfetse. This segment carries three pairs of gills, which arise
in a transverse luie; they are long, simple, sub-cylindrical, and grooved along the
posterior margin. The base is more or less expanded, and each terminates on a bluntly
rounded extremity. Of the six gills, however, only two remain entire : on the right
side the most dorsal, which is 15 nun. long, and on the left side the middle gill,
which is 10 mm. long ; the other four are represented by more or less of their basal
region.
The two most dorsal gills are close together near the middle line; the base of
each is produced outwards as a rounded ridge, passing obliquely outwards across the
dorsum to end at the base of the second notopod. The second gill is immediately external
to the first, and the third lies just above and in front of the first notopod.
There are seventeen pairs of notopods, rather prominent lobes, carrying very long,
stout, brown bristles ; the first notopod is on the third segment, which is much com-
pressed between its neighbours (this is perhaps due in part to the contraction of the
body) ; it is smaller than the rest, and carries fewer and shorter bristles ; the second is
longer, the following increase in size, and the full development of the foot is attained at
the sixth or seventh.
The bristles, of which there is a considerable mimber in each notopod, arranged
in a double or triple vertical series, are brownish in colour ; each is long, thick at the
base, slightly curved, and produced into a very fine point ; there is single flange on the
convex border.*
The uncinigerous neuropods commence below the fourth notopod on the sixth
body segment ; they are definite, wing-like, mobile organs, increasing in prominence pos-
teriorly. In the thorax the neuropod has a long, vertical, uncinigerous margin,
equalling in height that of the organ itself, but in the abdomen the neuropod is very
convex superiorly, and has a short uncinigerous margin directed somewhat downwards
(fig. 129).
The uncini are unlserial throughout the body, and number about eighty in
the anterior feet.
The uncinus (figs. 13o, 1.31) has two rows of four nearly equal teeth, springing
from a short, broad base, which is produced into a rounded lobe beyond the fourth
♦Treated as I treated tlie chsetie of Phyllocomus I find that the two lateral flanges are not present.
POLYCH^TA— BENHAM. 105
tooth, whicli is slightly smaller than the others; the liase has also a small lobe on its
lower edge below the first tooth. The nncini are simih^r throughout, but on the
thorax are larger than on the abdomen.
Locality. —
Connnonwealth Bay, Station 10, 325 fathoms.
Remarks. — The worni agrees fairly well witli Malmgren's diagnosis of Sanu/tha,
from which it differs in three noticeable features — (1) the form of the j^ros-
tomium ; ( 2) the presence of a folded menibrane in place of filamentous
tentacles ; and (3) the form of the uncinus. It bears no resenil^lance to the
only Icnown Antarctic Ampharetid Samytha (?) specidatrix Ehlers (1913,
p. 554). Consequently, a new genus is necessary, which may be defined as
follows: — " Ainpharetids with a trilobed prostominal flap; tentacles repre-
sented by an invaginable membrane; three pairs of cylindrical gills on the
second segnaent ; seventeen pairs of notopods ; uncinus with four paired
sub-equal teeth on a broad base.
Family CAPITELLID^E.
Genus Isomastus Gravier.
IsoMASTUs PERAEMATUS Gmvier.
Gravier (1911), p. 113, pi. VIIT, figs. 88-93; pi. IX, figs. 94-108.
Four specimens of this, the only Capifellid known from the antarctic, were
gathered, aniongst which a well preserved male measures 42 mm. in length by 2 mm. in
diameter anteriorly ; it contains fifty-two segments following the head. There is also
a female in the collection.
Locality. —
Boat Harbour, Commoixwealth Bay, 3| fathoms (muddy bottom).
Distribution. — Admiralty Bay, South Shetlaiids, Petermann (Gravier).
Family MALDANID^.
Genus Ehodine Malmgren.
Rhodine intermedia Arividsson.
Ardwidsson(1911), p. 11, pi. I, figs. .5-11; ph II, figs. 39-41.
R. loveni Willey (1902), p. 276, pi. XLVI, figs. 3-5.
R. antarctica Gravier (1906), p. 39, pi. IV, figs. 33-37.
R. loveni Gravier (1911), p. 125, pi. IX, figs. 110-112; pi. X, fig. 114; pi. XI,
fig. 133.
A single imperfect specimen, consisting of the head, followed by tliirteen
chfetigerous segments, and another portion consisting of six posterior segments, measure
iir all 35 mm. by 1 mm. in diameter.
106 AUSTRALASIAN ANTAECTIC EXPEDITION.
Previous authors have noted the readiness with VN^hich the hinder segments break
away, owing to the extremely slender connections between them, so that the true
dimensions of tlie species is unknown.
It is almost colourless, except that in front of the chtEta3 of each of the segments
4-10 is a pinkish area occupying more than half the length of the segment. This is the
" anterior glandular band " of Arwidsson, with which the indistinct "posterior band "
is continuous. There is no need for me to add anything to Arwidsson's exhaustive
study of the species.
Locality, —
Commonwealth Bay, Boat Harbour, 3i fathoms.
Distribution.— Ca-pe Adare, Victoria Laiid (Willey); Port Charcot and Petermann
( Grav ier) ; S outh Georgia ( Arwi dsson) .
Remarls. — It is thus circumpolar.
Genus isocirrus Arividsson.
IsociRRUs YUNGi Gvavier.
Gravier(1911),p. 122, pi. IX., fig. 109; pL X, figs. 115-120.
Gravier's type specimens were two fragments, of which one was an anterior
portion and the other a short piece of the hinder end. They are a good deal smaller
than the specimens collected by the " Aurora," and the tube in which the am'mal lived
was not collected or reported upon.
Eleven individuals of the species, mostly imperfect, were obtained at a depth of
157 fathoms. In most of them the body is encircled by a portion of the nnid-tube,
which has a very thick wall; thus a worm measuring 7 mm. in dianaeter fills the lumen
of a tube whose external diameter is 11 mm., so that its thickness is 2 mm.
A complete individual studied is 110 mm. in length with a breadth of 5 mm.
anteriorly. Another one, lackiixg only the anal funnel and a portion of the long preanal
segment, attains a length of 135. mm. with a breadth of 7 mm.: but judging from some
of the fragments still within their tubes, the species may reach even a greater size than
this.
The colour is almost uniform pale brown, except that in one or two cases the
5th and 6th segments are darker than the rest; the glajidular band at the commencement
of the segments is nearly white.
The complete individual first mentioned above consists of the " head," followed
by nineteen elongated chaetigerous segments and a long preanal segment ; this bears six
glandular half-rings, corresponding in position to the uncinal glands to be described
POLYGHiETA— BENHAM. 107
below, and so probably represents six segments; of these glands the three anterior
extend fnrtlier round the body than do the other three. The body terminates as usual
in an anal funnel.
The uncini eonunence on the 5th segment, and the neuropods of the last seven
segments are very prominent.
In the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th segments there are one or two short, stout, bluntly-
pointed spines below the small bundle of capillif orm chaetae : Gravier in speaking of these
says that there is " une rang e de crochets ventraux "; if by this he means a vertical
row of hooks the statement does i\ot apply to these specimens.
The " head," i.e., the prostomium and peristomium, is equal in leiigth to the 2nd
segment ; each of the next five segments is approximately equal to this; but each
of the following six is a good deal longer. But it depends on the state of preservation,
for in some extended worms this difference between the first five and the next six is
hardly noticeable. The chaata? in this genus are inserted near the anterior boundary of
the segment; in the first five, at about one-third ; in the following six or more, at
about one-fourth the length of the segment.
There is a glandular band surrounding the prech«tal region of each segment,
this is interrupted on each side by a deep, narrow, horizontal furrow. This glandular
band forms, in some individuals, a feeble collar, but in extended specimens the overlap
is not apparent. At the segment on which the true hooks appear, namely, the 5th,
there is also a post-cha>tal gland ; at first this is narrow, but as the series of uncini becomes
longer this gland increases in width as well as in length. By the 8th segment the pre-
chaetal band is differentiated into a narrow dorsal and a wider ventral portion; and the
ventral gland, which now appears as a large oval patch, overlaps the previous segment
more distinctly. By the 10th the dorsal gland has become considerably reduced, and
on the 11th has disappeared, so that posteriorly only the ventral or uncinal gland
persists; this enlarges in the segment further back, till in the 17th, for instance, it covers
half its length.
I have given these details as Gravier says nothing al)0ut them; the arrangement
is entirely in agreement with the general character of the glands described by Arwidsson
for the genus.
Gravier's account of the prostomium, or cephalic plate, needs no additioix, though
his figure is somewhat diagrammatic. The dorsal transverse portion of the membrane
that surrounds the plate is crenated. He states that there is a dozen low rounded lobes,
but T find that the number and form is variable. Sometimes they are uniform in size,
bhougli in some individuals they may be larger than in others; in the former case I
counted 18 lobes, in the latter as many as 25. In other individuals, the smaller and
larger lobes are irregularly alternating.
The anal funnel, as the generic name implies, is surrounded by uniform digitations,
of which I count as many as 36.
108 AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC: EXPEDITION.
A figiire of the capilliform chseta? is given by Gravier; l)ut liis interpretation of
the hool< is not qnite in agreement with what I see. The large fang is surmonnted by
four others of much smaller size; and there are some laterally situated small teeth at
the base of the large fang. Further, the bay between the fang and the bundle of threads
is deeper and roughly semicircular in outline.
It may be that these small differences depend on the segment or region of the
worm from which the uncinus is taken.
Locality. —
Station 3, 157 fathoms.
Distribution . — ^Petermann.
Family ARENICOLIDiE.
Genus Arenicola Cuvier.
Arenicola assimilis, var. apfinis Ashworth.
Ashworth (1903), p. 760, pis. XXXVI, XXXVII.
Ashworth (1912), p. 123, pi. VII, fig. 16 ; pi. X, fig. 29 ; pi. XIII, fig. 45; pi.
XIV, fig. 50 (a full bibliography herein).
Fauvel (1916), p. 455.
Twenty specimens, carefully preserved in fornialine, were collected by Mr.
Hamilton at Macquarie Island, where they are common, embedded in sand and broken
shells, between rocks, two inches below the surface at low tide.
They vary in length from 40-140 mm. The colour in life is stated to be for most
of them " pale green with red gills." These have turned brown in the preservative;
others were " dark green " in life, and have become almost black.
Locality. —
Garden Bay, Macquarie Island.
Distribution . — New Zealand, Magellan Strait ( Ehlers) ; Falkland Islands ( Ashworth,
Fauvel); North Tasmania, Table Bay, S. Africa (Ashworth); Campbell
Islands (Benham).
Family CHLORHiEMID^.
Genus Flabelligera Sars.
Flabelligera mundata Gravier.
Gravier (1906), p. 37, pi. IV, figs. 31, 32.
Gravier (1911), p. 110, pL VIII, fig. 87.
Ehlers(1912), p. 25.
Ehlers ( 1913), p. 535, pi. XLI, figs. 1-12.
Of the three specimens in the collection, the largest measures 93 mm. in length;
ts greatest breadth is 18 mm., its height 10 mm. It is thus larger than that described
by Ehlers.
POLYCH.ETA— BENHAM. 109
The 26 bundles of capillifonn clia^ta- project for 16-25 mm. beyond the transhicent,
firm, jelly-Uke investment of the body, which is here greyish, not yellowish-brown as
described by the previous authors. The cha?t0e, which are covered with nuid, are
accompanied by long-stalked clavate papillae.
Localities . —
Station 10, 325 fathoms (one).
Station 12, 110 fathoms (two)
Distribution. — Port Charcot, South Shetlauds (Gravier); Kaiser Wilhelm II Land,
South Victoria Land (Ehlers).
Family SABELLIDyE.
PoTAMiLLA Malmgren.
PoTAMiLLA ANTARCTICA Kinherg.
Laonome antarctica Kinberg (1866), p. 354.
Lamome antarctica Elders {1897), -p. 135 ; (1901), p. 216.
Potamilla antarctica Gravier ( 1906), p. 59, text-figs. 38-43.
Potamilla antarctica Gravier (1911), p. 144, pi. XI, figs. 137-141.
Potamilla antarctica Ehlers (1913), p. 575.
Potamilla antarctica Fauvel ( 1916), p. 474, pi. VIII, figs. 4-7.
Of this species, so widely and aliundantly distributed through the antarctic seas,
a large number were forwarded to me. They may be grouped for convenience of reference
into two lots; partly from their geographical range, and partly from the size of the
individuals.
Group A consists of small individuals from 25-40 mm. in length, exclusive of the
gUls. These occur on the shores of Macquarie Island. They agree in dimensions, as
well as in external features, with the worms described by Ehlers, Gravier,* and Fauvel,
which has hitherto been regarded as the typical condition of the species.
Group B contains much larger worms, attaining lengths ranging from 72 nun. up
to 230 mm., exclusive of the gills. These come from Commonwealth Bay, at various
depths; and the larger ones exceed in size the largest specimen, of which the dimensions
have hitherto been recorded, namely, that mentioned by Ehlers as being 170 mm. in
length, obtained from South Victoria Land.
From their much greater dimensions I expected that these would prove to belong
to a different species, but after examining them from every anatomical point of view,
I came to the conclusion that there are no features that distinguish them from the more
typical specimens under Group A, other than their size.
* Gravier describes tlie species as if it were new, affixing his owu name after it,
110 AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.
We must therefore regard them as ohler. perliaps imich ohler, stages of
development than the smaller ones.
I will deal with the two groups separately.
Group A. — The Ma-cquarie Island Form.
Masses of densely aggregated, small, brown, horny tubes set side by side
horizontally, with the free ends curving away from the main axis, were obtained from
rock scrapings, and from the under-side of stones at low water, at the North end of the
Island. The free end of the tube is thinner and has sand grains adherent to it.
The contained worm, removed from one such tube, has a total length of 35 mm.,
of which the gill-plume occupies about 5.6 mm.; the body is 2.5 mm. in width, and
contains 65 segments.
The gills are speckled with red-brown dots and splashes, closely set along the inner
side of the filaments, the shaft being unpigmented. The filaments are loose and curl
outwards; I find 15-20 filaments on each side. There is no inter- filamentary membrane.
Eggs were attached to the gills, as has been stated by other writers. The thorax
in these small forms contains usually 8 segments; though sometimes only 7.
Group B. — Commonwealth Bay Forms.
Of these I have seventy-two specimens, some still within their tubes, others
have been removed therefrom before preservation.
The tubes are of tough parchment-like material of a yellow-brown colour; but
those from greater depths, 110-120 fathoms, are more darkly coloured, and are rather
olive-brown.
The longest tube measured came from 25 fathoms; it attains a length of 400 mm.
with a diameter of 8 mm.; the surface is smooth, the upper end thinner, flexible, and
paler in tint. It has some sand grains adherent to it.
Another tube from the same haul is much paler in tii^t, and much slenderer than
the majority; measures 90 mm. by 1.5 mm.
Still another tube is 270 mm. long, and contains a worm nreasuring 226 mm.
inclusive of the gills, which account for 44 mm.
A worm of 150 mm. exclusive of the gills, which are 40 mm. long, contains 190
segments. Its breadth at the collar is 6 mm.; its greatest breadth is 8 mm., and the
height of the body 5 mm.
I measured a nunaber of these worms from various depths in order to see whether
there was any correlation between size and depth, Imt I find none.
POLYCHiETA-BENHAM. Ill
The thoracic region jiresents a much wider range of variation as to the uu mber
of component segments than do those in Group A. Of those examined I find the following
numbers : — •
Six have 8 segments.
One has 9.
Thi-ee have 10.
Three have 11.
Five have 12.
Three have 12 on the right side and 13 on left.
One has 14.
Two have 15,
One has 14 on the right side and 10 on the left.
There is no apparent relation between the length of body and that of thorax, for
in three worms measuring 170 mm. two have 8 thoracic segments, and one has 12.
Eight segments occur, also, in a worm 135 mm. long: 11 segments occur in a
worm 195 mm., while another of the same length has 14 segments.
In two smaller worms of this group, measuring 72 and 85 mm., I find that the
thorax contains only 8 segments. It seems, then, in a very general way that the manlier
of thoracic segments increases with the size, that is the age, of the individual.
The gills contain a much larger number of filaments than in the typical form of
the species. Thus, there are thirty to forty filaments on each side; but in a worni
170 mm. long, I find only twen'^y-one filaments.
The pigmentation of the gills is liable to much variation also. In some they are
uniform in tint, or rather uiicoloured; in others there are the usual irregularly arranged
splashes of red-brown along their length. In one case I noted that some of the dorsal
filaments are without pigment, though most of them have a band of brown extending
from the tip to about quarter the length ; or even further down in the more ventral
filaments. A few of them have in addit'on a short transverse band about half-way
down.
In another individual there are three fairly regularly disposed patches at quarter,
half, and three-quarter of the length from the base upwards, while the apex is, as usual,
imcoloured.
Others, again, have more numerous distinct bands up to eight in numl)er. One of
the smaller specimens has purplish pigment arranged in irregular dots at wide intervals
apart along the filaments.
Probably, had one only a few of these larger worms before one, a new species
would have been warranted, but I prefer to leave these in the present species.
112 AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.
Localities. —
Maequaiie Island.
Commonwealth Bay, Boat Harbour —
Station B, 25 fathoms (forty).
Station 3, 157 fathoms (three).
Station 7, 60 fathoms (eight).
Station 8, 120 fathoms (nine).
Station 12, 110 fathoms (seven).
DistrihuHon.- — Magellan Strait (Kinl)erg); Fuegia, Uschuaia, South Georgia, Kaiser
Wilhelm II Land, Kerguelen, South Victoria Land ( Ehlers) ; He Booth Wandel
(Gravier); Falklands Islands (Fauvel).
Remarks. — It is more than probable that the wornr referred to as Sabella ceratodaula
Schmarda by Miss E. Pratt (1900) as occuring at the Falklands is this sjjecies.
Family SERPULID^.
Genus Serpula Linnaeus, s.st. Philippi.
Serpula vermicularis, var. narconensis Baird.
S. narconensis Baird (1864), Proc. Linn. Soe., London, vol. viii, p. 21, pi. II,
figs. 7, 8 (operculum).
^S. narconensis Mcintosh (1885), p. 516, pi. LIV, fig. 5; pi. LV, %. 1;
pi. XXXI A, fig. 23.
*S'. narconensis var. magellanica, Mcintosh (1885), p. 518, pi. LV, fig. 2; pi.
XXXI a, figs. 24, 25.
*S'. fatagcmica Grube (1877), p. 550.
S. vermicularis Ehlers (1897), p. 140 ; (1901), p. 219.
S. vermicularis var. narconensis Ehlers (1912), p. 31 ; (1913), p. 581.
S. vermicularis Gravier (1906), p. 62; (1911), p. 147, pi. XII, figs. 170-174.
Baird established his species on a single specimen obtained dming the Ross
Antarctic Expedition; it was without a tube, and was characterised by its operculum.
Mcintosh (1870, p. 322) compared it with a specimen collected by the Venus Transit
Expedition to Kerguelen, which, although it lacked the operculum, was in its tube.
He satisfied himself that the two are identical.
In 1897 Ehlers placed Baird's species as a synonym for S. vermicularis, and
suggested that Mcintosh's var. margellanica should be included. But in 1912 Ehlers
makes it a distinct variety, the tubes of which, he showed, are linked on with the type
by a number of intermediate forms, in some of which even the everted lip, upon the
possession of which Baird founded his species, was lacking.
POLYCHiETA— BENHAM. US
Several of these characteristic tubes, some containing the animal, were obtained
during the exjjedition of the " Aurora."
The narrow, white calcareous tubes have a diameter of 2-75 mm., and the
thickened everted lip is 4-5 mm. across. Along the course of the tube are similar
thickened lips at intervals, indicating periods of cessation of gro\\i;h. The tubes are
more or less undulating, or may be coiled, where they are attached to some object,
such as a stone or shell.
Localities. —
Boat Harbour, Station B, 25 fathoms.
Commonwealth Bay —
Station 1, 354 fathoms.
Station 2, 318 fathoms.
Station 3, 120 fathoms.
Station 9, 240 fathoms.
Station 10, 325 fathoms.
Distribution. — " He Narcon in the Antarctic Ocean" (Baird), Kerguelen (Grube),
Marion Island, Heard Island (Mcintosh), Magellan Strait (Mcintosh, Ehlers),
Admiralty Sound, S. Victoria Land, K. Wilhelm II Land (Ehlers), South
American Antarctic (Gravier).
Genus spirorbis Daudin.
Spirorbis nordenskjoldi Eh'ers.
Ehlers (1901), p. 223.
Ehlers (1908), p. 165.
Gravier (1911), p. 153, pL XI, figs. 153, 154.
Gravier has pointed out that it is difficult to be certain as to the identification
of this species, as Ehlers has given no figure of it. Hence it is with some hesitation
that I attribute our specimens to this species; they agree with the accounts referred
to above and with Gravier's figures.
Localities,—
Boat Harbour, 3-4 fathoms.
Coimnonwealth Bay, Station D, 45-50 fathoms.
Distribution. — Punta Delgada, Bouvet Island (Ehlers), Petermann (Gravier).
•83892— P
lU AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIG EXPEDITION.
BIBLIOGRAPHY.
Apstein (1890).— Zool. Jahresber, Abth. f. Syst., vol. v. (Not seen.)
Arwidsson (18f8).— Stud. iib. die Fam. Glyceridte und Goniadida-. Bergen.s Mu.seums
Aaiiog, XI.
„ (1906). — Studien uber die skandinavischeu und arktischen Maldaniden.
Upsala.
„ (1911).— Die Maklanideu. Wiss. Ergebn. d. Scliwedischen Sudpokr
Expedition, 1901-1903, vol vi, lief 6.
Af-HWORTH (1903).—" The Anatomy of Arenicola assimHis and of a New Variety of the
Species," Quart. Journ., Micro. Sci., vol. xlvi.
„ (1912). — Catalogue of the Ch;ietopods in the British Museum, Part I.
Arenicolid*.
AuGENER (1913. 191J).— Die Fauna Siidwest Australiens. Ed. iv, Polycha?ta errant':a,
1913. Bd. V, PoIych8e:;a sedentaria, 1914.
Benham (1909). — Report on the Polychseta of the Subantaretic Islands of New
Zealand. Christehurch.
„ (1915). --Report on the Poly clntta . (Biol. Results of the Fishing Experiments
carried on by the F.I.S. " Endeavour," 1909-1914, vol. iii).
Sydney.
„ (1916). — Report on the Polycha'ta. (Biol. Results of the Fishing Experiments
carried on by the F.I.S. " Endeavour," 1909-1914, Part II,
vol. iv). Sydney.
Bonnier (1893).— Bull. Sci. de la France ct de la Belgique, vol. xxv.
Claparede and Metschnikoff (1869). — Zeit. f. Wiss. Zool.. vol. xiv. (Not seen.)
Cuvier (1817).— La Regne Animal. Edit. 2, tome ii.
Ehlers (1897). — Hamburger magalhaenische Sammel-Reise. PoIycha?ten.
,, (1901). — Die Polycha^ten der Magell. u. Chilen. Strandes.
,, (1904).— Neuseeland Anneliden. Nach. d. K. Ges. d. Wiss. Anst., aus Gottingen,
Bd. iii.
,, (1907). — Neuseeland Anneliden. Nach. d. K. Ges. d. Wiss. Anst., aus Gottingen,
Part ii, Bd. v.
,, (1908). — Die Bodensassigen Anneliden aus dem Sanunl. d. deutsch. Tiefsee
Expedition (Valdivia) 1898-1899. Jena.
,, (1912). — National Antarctic Expedition. Polycha^ta.
,, (1913). — Die Polycha-ten Sammlungen d. deutsch. Sud-Polar Expedition,
1901-1903, Bd. xiii, Zoologie. Berlin.
POLYCHiETA— BENHAM. 115
Fauvel (1897).— Reclierches sur les Ampliai\''tiens. Bull. Sci. de la France et de la
Belgique, vol. xxx.
(1916). — Anuelides polyclietes des iles Falkland. Arch. d. Zool. Exper., vol. Iv.
„ (1917). — Annelides polyclietes de I'Australe meridionale. Arch. d. Zool. Exper.,
vol. Ivi.
■„ (1919). — Annel. polych. de Madagascar. Arch. d. Zool. Exper., vol. Iviii.
Gravier (1906). — Annelides Polychetes. Expedition antarctique t'ranfaise (1903-
1905). "
„ (1911). — Annelides Polychetes. Deuxieme expedition antarctique fran9aise
(1908-1910).
Grube (1877).— Anneliden Ausbeute S.M.S. Gazelle. Monatsber. d. K. Akad. Wiss.
Berlin.
„ (1878). — Die Earn. Eunicea : 2nd Ablh. Lumbriconereidea. Jahresber. d.
Schles. Gesell. f. Vaterl. Kultur.
KiNBERG (1857). — Annulata. Kgl. Svenska Fregatten Eugenies Resa, 1851-1853.
„ (1864-1866). — Annulata nova, Ofversigt af K. Svenska Vet. Akad. Forhandl.
KoEscHELT (1893). — " Uber Opluyotrocha puerilis." Zeit. f. Wiss. Zool., vol. Ivii.
Langerhans (1880). — Die Wurnifauna Madeii'as. Zeit. f. AViss. Zool., vol. xxxiii.
Leiper (1908). — List of generic names of polychaet worms that have been preoccupied,
etc. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (ser. 8.), vol. ii, p. -468.
Malmgren (1865-1867). — Nordiska Hafs-annulater.
McIntosh (1876). -New Species of Annelida from Kerguelen Island. Ann. Mag.
Nat. Hist. (ser. 4), vol. xvii.
„ (1879).— Zoology of Kerguelen. Transit of Venus Expedition, 1874-75.
Phil. Trans., vol. clxviii.
„ (1885). — Annelida Polychseta. Reports of " Challenger "" Expedition, vol. xii.
(1915).— Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (ser. 8), vol. xv.
Moore (1903). — •Polychsta from the Cotihtal Slope of Japan and from Kanichatka.
Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia.
„ (1909). — Polychsetous Annelids from iNIonterey Bay, and San Diego, California.
Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia.
„ (1911).— The PoIych»tous Annelids diedged by the U.S.S. " Albatross," oft" the
Coast of S. California in 1S04. TIT. Euphrosynidae to
Goniadidai. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia.
MuLLER (1776). — Zoologica Danica Prodromus. (Not seen.)
Oersted (1843).^Gronland. Amudata Dorsibranchiata. (Not seen.)
116. AUSTRALASIAN AISITAECTIC EXPEDITION.
PiXELL (1913).- — Polychata of the fani. Serpulidse and Sabellidse coll. by the Scottish
National Antarctic Exped. Trans. Roy. Soc, Edinburgh,
vol. xlix.
Pratt (1900). — A collection of Polychata from the Falkland Islands. Mem.
Manchester Phil, Soc, vol. 45.
QuATREFAGES (1865). — Histoire naturelle des Anneles.
Ramsay (1914). — Polychaeta of the fam. Nereidse, coll. by the Scottish National
Antarctic Exped. Trans. Roy. Soc, Edinburgh, vol. 1.
Rosa (1908).^ — Raccolte Planctoniehe, vol. v. Tomopteridi.
Saint Joseph, De (1888). — Annel. polych. des cotes de Dinard. Ann. Sci. Nat. (Zool.),
ser. 7, vol. v.
(1895).— Loc. cit. (ser. 7\ vol. xx.
ScHMARDA (1861). — Neue Wirbellose Thiere, vol. I, part ii.
Southern (1909). — "Pelagic Phyllodocidse." Fisheries, Ireland, Scient. Investiga-
tions, 1908, iii.
,, (1911). — The Alciopinse, Tomopteridse, etc., loc. cit., 1910, iii.
Studer (1878). — Arch. f. naturgesch, vol. xliv. (Not seen.)
Tkeadwell (1914). — Polychfetous Annelids of the Pacific CL)a^t, &c. Univ. of
Cahforn'a Publications. Zoology, vol. xiii.
Waite (1916). — Australasian Antarctic Exped., 1911-1914, Scient. Reports, Fishes.
Willey (1902). — Report on the coll. Natural History, "Southern Cross" expedition.
Polychaeta.
„ (1905). — Ceylon Pearl Fishery Report (Royal Soc) " On the Polychaeta."-
POLYCH/ETA— BENHAM. 117
EXPLANATION OF PLATES.
Plate 5.
Syllis closterdbranchia (figs. 1-2).
Fig. I. A parapod, anterior face ( x 45).
2. The ends of two acicula.
S. brcwhycola (fig. 3).
Fig. 3. Tip of aciculiim.
SphiBwsyUis mcintosM (figs. 4-6).
Fig. 4. Anterior end, dorsal view ( X 45). Camera outline from a specimen mounted
in glycerine.
5. Ventral view of the same ( X 45).
6. The tips of acicula.
Aufolytus cJmrcoti (figs. 7-10).
Fig. 7. A transverse section of the body, atokous stage, in front of the middle (camera
X 30). The dorsal cirri present a series of glands along the upper part of the
outer surface; the great ventral glandular pad is distinctly marked ofi from
the body.
8. A cheeta from the upper part of a bundle ( x 720).
9. The " head " of Polybostrichus, ventral view (camera X 20), sho-nang the
relative lengths of the appendages and the ventral swellings below the great
lateral tentacles.
10. The " head " of Polybostrichus, dorsal \dew ( x 30), sho\ving the epaulettes
of the species ; some of the appendages cut short.
Exogone anmnalocJia'ta (figs. 11-13).
Fig. 11. Anterior end, camera outline (x 90) : the nuchal organ is seen on the left side.
12. Hind end (x 90).
13. The three forms of chsetfe in the dorsal bundle (enlarged : (a) Tip of the
capillif orm ; ( h) end of the uppermost gomphotrich, side and f i out views ;
(c) one of the remainder of the bundle, both aspects.
Hololepidella flynni (figs. 14-20).
Fig. 14. Dorsal view of the head ( X 10); the palp and peristomial cirri of the right
side are omitted. On the left side the first elytrophore is indicated.
15. A parapod of a cirriferous segment, posterior face (camera X 15).
118 AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.
Fig. 16. A parapod from an elytriferous segment anterior face ( x 15).
17. One of the ventral clisetge ( X 90).
18. A ventral chaeta from about the middle of the Imndle (x 90).
19. The apex of a ventral tha'ta ( X 260). The pectinated frills are very delicate
and have an irregnlar course.
20. The apex of a dorsal chsta ( x 250).
Plate 6.
Harmothoe sfinosa (fig. 21).
Fig. 21. Dorsal view of a portion of a specimen, showing a " chess-board " pattern.
The parallel lines represent olive; the groups of dots, brown; where these are
closer together, a dark brown. (Fnlarged.)
Harniofhoe tuherosa (figs. 22-29).
Fig. 22. Tip of a dorsal chfeta ( X 360), showing the characteristic " bearded " nature
of the upper frills, as seen in an unworn chjeta. The hairs really lie more
closely alongside the axis, but are here represented as outspread so as better
to show their relations. The hairs from the lower bundles in the figure have
Ijeen omitted from the near surface. The apparent " spines " are the edges
of the frills composed of the bases of several hairs superposed.
23. Side view of the apex of a dorsal chseta from which the " hairs " have been
worn away ( X 360). The aspect as seen in Canada balsam mounts is likely
to be misleading, as owing to the transparency of the frills in front of the
axis, the structure is scarcely visible ; but in glycerine mounts it is more
readily interpreted; the apparent spines along the edge are then seen to be
the frills bending round the bristle, and are tlius a measure of the height and
thickness of these frills.
24. Portion of the shaft of the same dorsal chseta, immediately below the apex
shown in fig. 23 ( X 360). This shows the angular character of the shaft
and the difference in the nature of the frills on face and side. The
uppermost frills are confined to the front face, the lateral frills commence
some distance from the apex.
25. A ventral chseta from about the middle of the bundle ( x 35).
26. A ventral chseta from upper part of the bundle, the frilled region from the
side, showing the spines in the upper frills ( X 360).
27. The same from the front face ( X 360), showing two rows of spines one on each
side.
28. Three posterior elytra of an individual with abnormally developed conical
tubercles ( x 6).
29. The last elytroii of the same (X 10).
POLYCH^TA— BENHAM. 119
Harmothoe abi/ssomm (figs. 30-35).
Fig. 30. View of the head (X 10).
31. Front view of the prostomium, showing the tips of the " peaks " and the
relative position of insertion of the median and lateral tentacles.
32. A cirriferous parapod (camera, x 10).
33. A tubercle of an elytron, side and top views (enlarged).
34. A dorsal chseta ( x 90).
35. A ventral chfeta ( X 90).
Eulagisca corrientis (figs. 36-38).
Fig. 36. The head dorsal view (X 5). The tentacles are broken off, the palps are
represented as having l)een cnt away to a greater or less amount, and the sub-
tentacular frontal cone (/.c.) is seen below and projecting beyond the tenta-
culophore. The peristomial parapod is produced hitoa fine point (l) between
the dorsal and ventral cirri.
37. View of the head from in front ( x 5), showing the position of the frontal cone.
The three tentacles are seen to lie in the same plane. The peristomium is
foreshortened, and only the apex of the lobe (J) and insertion of the two cirri
are indicated; {1} elytrophore of second segment.
38. The second elytron ( x 10).
Plate 7.
Eulaijisca corrientis (figs. 39-42).
Fig. 39. The eleventh parapod, anterior face (x 2h).
40. One of the upper dorsal chaetse ( X 45).
41. A ventral cha^ta from the middle of the bundle ( x 45).
42. A ventral chaeta from the lower part of the bundle (X 45).
Hermaaion roucJd (figs. 43-47.)
Fig. 43. One of the most dorsal cheetse from a large individual ( x 45).
44. The apex of one of the smaller dorsal ehaetae from the upper part of a bundle,
from one of the smaller individuals ( X 250).
45. The apex of one of the largest dorsal chsetae, much worn ( X 250).
46. One of the uppermost chsetae of a ventral bundle of a large individual ( x 45).
47. One of the low^ermost ventral cha?ta^ of a large individual ( x 45).
Eulalia Imnteri (figs. 48-52).
Fig. 48. Anterior end of the worm ( X 9).
49. The head (x 27). Only the appendages of the right side are completed.
50. A parapod, anterior face (camera, x 20).
51. A clia'ta ( X 250) : the appendix is not necessarily curved. The outline is too
heavily drawor ; it is in the object extremely fine. Note the peculiar articulation.
.32. A gioup of pLaiyiigtal papilla? (X 3,3) : tlu'ce are shown from above.
120 AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.
Eulalia mcleani (figs. 53-57).
Fig. 53. Anterior end (enlarged).
54. A parapod ( X 20).
55. A chseta ( X 500), side view. The appendix is not necessarily curved.
56. The articulation of appendix ( X 500).
57. Pharyngeal papillte ( x 70); the two broader ones are seen in a plane different
from the rest. A top view of one is shown.
Pelatjohia viguieri (figs. 59, 60).
Pig. 58. (There is no drawing conesponding to this number.)
59. The peristomial cirrus ( x 90) showing the axial chitinous support.
60. A portion of the cirrus near the base ( x 720), showing the tapering proximal
termination of the axial supports, and the thickened cuticle on the posterior
face of the cirrus.
Plate 8.
Vanadis antarctica (figs. 61-63).
Fig. 61. A complete chseta (camera, x 30). It was drawn in two parts, a small bubble
of air lay about half-way along, which enabled me to join the two sketches
accurately together.
62. Two aspects of the articulation at difierent foci ( x 360).
63. Another form of articulation less commonly met with ( X 360).
Tomopteris carpenteri (figs. 64-66).
Fig. 64. Head and first segment ( X 10). The cirrus is cut short; its supporting chaeta
is shown as projecting a short distance beyond the cut end.
65. The head of a soft specimen (X 10), showing the epaulette of the left side
triangular, as is figured by Quatrefages for the species.
66. A parapod ( x 10).
Nereis loxechini (figs. 67-75).
Fig. 67. Head of a well-preserved specimen ( x 10).
68. Head of soft specimen ( x 5).
69. A parapod of 20tli segment, ventral view ( x 10), {a) anterior face, (p) process
of the posterior lip.
70. The 8th parapod in outline ; anterior face ( X 20).
71. The 34th parapod in outline; posterior face (x 20).
72. The 80th parapod in outline ; posterior face ( X 20).
73. One of the stout brown heterogomph falcigers, from the supra-acicular
bundle ( x 250).
74. Heterogomph falciger, from the sub-acicular bundle ( X 250).
POLYCHiETA— BENHAM. 121
Lumbriconereis macquariensis (figs. 76-81).
Fig. 76. Head, ventral view (enlarged).
77. The 8tli parapod (camera, X 90).
78. A posterior parapod ( x 90).
79. The only articulated hook which was found (X 360) ; it occurred in an anterior
parapod.
80. The usiial form of hook, taken from the 25th parapod ( x 360), as seen from
the side and from in front, showing the denticulated lower poition of the
hood.
81. A capilliform chosta from 8th foot ( X 250).
H'pluerodorum spissum (figs. 82-84).
Fig. 82. Entii'e animal drawn from the unstained cleared specimen (camera, x 20).
83. Anterior end of the same ( x 70) camera outline. The prepharyngeal region
is shown in surface view, except the eye vesicles (?), but the pharynx is at
a deeper level ; the dark patches in front of it are glands; the bundles of
chsetse lie really below the rest, on the ventral surface.
84. The posterior end ( X 70), surface view.
Plate 9.
Sphcerodoram sjiissiim (figs. 85-89).
Fio;. 85. Portion of the surface of the stained specimen ( X 35), showing the ventral
surface and a portion of the animal's right side. The outline is drawn under
the camera, but details are fiUed in from various parts of the surface.
86. A portion of the margin of the same preparation ( x 45), showing the absence
of any definite alternation in size of the papilla?.
87. A papilla (magnified; freehand).
88. A parapod (magnified; freehand), seen from below. Note the thickness of
the cuticle.
89. A chseta (magnified; freehand).
Aricia marginata var. tndeani (fig. 90).
Fig. 90. One of the anterior neuropods wath the additional series of spines behind and
below the third row.
Scolaplos manrsoni (figs. 91-94).
Fig. 91. The parapod from the 7th segment ( x 45).
92. Parapod fi-om the 24th ( X 45).
93. From the 32nd ( X 45).
94. From the 53rd segment ( x 45).
•83892— Q
122 AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.
Lecena arenilega (figs. 95, 96).
Fig. 95. Anterior eiid from above (enlarged); most of the tentacles are omitted; a
few are shown cut short.
96. Anterior end from below.
Scione mirabilis (figs. 97-100).
Fig. 97. Anterior end, from the side (enlarged), showing the contracted gill, as described
for S. spinifera.
98. Aiiterior end of another specimen (a female) with gill extended, as in Mcintosh's
figure. This was removed from its tube in which it had been preserved.
99. Uncinus from a posterior segment (X 360).
100. Uncinus viewed from above : (a) one of the upper ones; (6) one of the lower
ones.
Polycirrus Immiltoni (figs. 101-106).
Fig. 101. Ventral view of anterior end. Note the nephi'idial papillse below the notopods.
102. The 13th parapod, with contained eggs ( x 90).
103. Notopodial capUliform cha^ta, with unsymmetrical flange ( X 720).
104. Notopodial capilliform cheeta, the slender denticulated form ( X 720).
105. Uncinus (x 720).
106. Uncinus from above (freehand) to show the "hood" above the teeth.
Plate 10.
PkyUocomus dihranchiata (figs. 107-123).
Fig. 107. Entu-e worm in outline ; natural size.
108. The anterior end from in front (enlarged) — hr., branchiferous segment ; pe.,
peristomium ; pr., prostomial plate ; x., nuchal organ.
109. Anterior end from the right side. Letters as above.
110. Ajiterior end, dorsal view of left side— gr., insertion of gill.
111. Transverse section of gill, showing axis and the four lamellse.
112. Transverse section of a gill-folium (x 45). The blood-vessels cut through are
indicated by the rows of black ovals.
1 13. Anterior end ventral view — /. , group of pigment spots ; 3. , the first cha^tigerous
segment. Other letters as above.
114. Dorsal view of the junction of thorax {th.), and abdomen [ah. 1) ( X 8).
115. Posterior end, side view ( X 5).
116. The tentacles displayed within the- buccal cavity by slitting the body wall
along the dotted lines shown in fig. 113— w., the membrane surrounding the
base of the tentacles.
117. A portion of the peritentacular membrane with the tentacles turned forwards,
showing the proximal and distal rows of pigment spots^
POLYCH^TA—BENHAM. 123
Fig. 118. A dorsal cliaeta viewed in the plane with two flanges (x 45).
119. A dorsal chseta viewed in the plane at right angles to the above ; it is now
curved, and has one broader flange ( X 45).
120. A portion of a dorsal chseta lying on its two-flanged side, with the third flange
projecting iipwards ( X 720).
121. The tenth abdominal neuropod (x 20), — d., distal process ; p., proximal
papifla.
122. Neuropodial uncinus ( x 360).
123. The same viewed from above.
Amyihas membranifera (figs. 124-132).
Fig. 124. Anterior end dorsal view (natural size). The missing gills are indicated by
the dotted lines.
125. Anterior end (enlarged) — g., the anterior gill of right side; g. 2, g. 3, the
gills, or their bases, of the second and third pairs ; hr., branchiferous segment ;
fr., prostomium.
126. Side view of anterior region ( X 2) — fe.. peristominm ; other letters as above.
127. Anterior end, seen from in front (X 3), with the tentacular membrane [t.m.)
pressed downwards—/., lateral region of the lower lip (peristominm) ; pr.,
prostomium ; s.o., supra-oral arch.
128. View from below of the anterior end. dissected from the left side, and the floor
pressed down- ;//., ventral gland shields ; I. a., lateral region of the supraoral
arch ; /./., inner lower lip or sphincter ; nrp., neurojjods ; pe., peristominm ;
t.m., tentacular membrane.
129. Side view of the abdominal segments.
130. Thoracic uncinus ( x 360).
131. Abdominal unchnis ( x 360).
132. Abdominal uncinus, viewed from above ( X 360).
124
AUSTRALASIAN ANTABCTIC EXrEDlTION.
NJ)EX.
ahyssorum Haemothoe...
ahyssorum Eunoa
affinis Arenicola assimilis
Alciopa
alcyonia Eurythoe
ambiguum Hermadion...
Ampharete
Amphitrite
Amythas
anonialocha-ta Exogone
antarctica Alciopa
antarciica Ereutho
antarctica Lagisca
fltitarctica Laonome
antarctica Neottis
antarctica Potamilla ...
antarctica Rhodine
antarctica Vanadis
antarcticus Thelepus ...
Arenicola
arenilega Le.^na..
Aricia
armiger Scoloplos
assimilis Arenicola ...
australis Nereis
AUTOLYTUS
benthaliana L^tmonice producia
brachycola Syllis
branchiferus Lepidonotus
brevicirris Lumbriconereis
capitata Glycera
carpenteri Tomopteris...
charcoti Autolytus
charcoti Eulalia
chitoniformis Lepidonotus
cincinnatus Thelepus ...
page.
42
42
108
58
69
50
103
82
102
24
58
95
35
109
91
109
105
58
91
108
89
77
80
108
67
27
31
22
40
72
74
61
27
52
40
92
POLYCH^TA— BENHAM. 125
commensalis Hololepidella
Eunice
EUKYTHOE
ExOGONE...
Flabelligera
Jiamiltoni Polycirrus
PAGE.
81
81
ClERATULUS
cirratus Cirratulus
claparedi Ophryotrocha 72
clavafor Exogone ... 25
closterohranckia Syllis... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... . . 20
34
comosa PiONOSYLLis ... 22
complanata Eurythoe 69
corrientis Eulagisca 43
crocea Phyllocomus yg
crosetcnsis Lagisca 4g
dihranchiafa Phyllcomus ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 97
chlersi Terebella g2
Enipo 32
Ereutho... 95
eschchollzi Tomopteris g4
Eteone ... ... ... ... ... . 5g
Eulagisca 43
Eulalia ... 52
70
Eunoa 42
69
24
108
flynni Hololepidella 33
fulgida Promenia gj
fullo Harmothoe spinosa ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 35
fullo POLYNOE 35
gibber Autolytus 3q
gigantea Trypanosy"llis ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 23
Glycera 74
94
Harmothoe ... ... 3,5
Heemadion ... ... ' 4g
Heieronereis ... ... ... ... ... ... ' ... ' ... ... ... 57
heterosetosa Exogone ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 24
Hololepidella . 33
hunteri Eulalia ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... _ 53
insignis Polycirrus ... ... ■ 9^,
intermedia Rhodine ... jq^
ISOCIRRUS ... ■ ... • •... • ... IQQ
JsOMASTtJS
105
12(5
AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.
japonica Lumbeiconereis
Jeffrey sii Laoisca
jucunda Promenia
Tcerguelensis Amphitrite
kerguelensis Ereutho ...
Tcerguelensis Glycera ...
kerguelensis Hermadion
kerguelensis Lumbriconereis.
kerguelensis Nereis
kerguelensis Polycirrus
kerguelensis Salvatoria
kerguelensis Scoloplos...
L^ETMONIfE
Lagisca
lagiscoides, Harmothoe spinosa
Laonome
Le^na
Leprea
lonfjicirrata Pelagobia
longicirratiim Hermadio
loveni Rhodine...
loxechini Nereis
Lumbriconereis
maclearanus Autolytus
macquariensis Lumbriconereis
macrura Nephthys
madeirensis Phyllodoce
magalhcmisis Eulalia ...
magaUxFnsis Hermadion
magalhmnsis Lumbriconereis
magalhcpnsis Platynereis
magellanica Lagisca ...
magellanica Serpula ...
marginata Aricia
mawsoni Scoloplos
mcintoshi Sph^rosyllis
mcintoshi Thelepus ...
mcleani Aricia marginata
mcleani Eulalia
medipapillata Phyllodoce .
memhranifera Amythas
microphylla Eulalia ...
minimus Staurocephalus
minntuin Sph^erodorum
miraiilis Scione
PAGE.
71
50
81
82
95
74
50
70
68
95
26
78
31
38
37
109
89
94
58
50
105
65
70
29
71
68
51
52
50
70
67
35
112
77
78
26
91
78
55
51
102
55
73
75
POLYGH^TA— BENHAM.
127
molluscuni Hermadion..
mundala Flabelligeea
mutahiUtt Paractius
Nainereis
narconensis Serpula
Neottis spectabilis
Nephthys
Nereis
Nicolea
nordenskjoldi iSpirorbi
notialis Paractius
notocera Syllis ...
ohlini Akicia
Ophroyotrocha
pacifica Eurythoe
Paractius
parvum Sph.i;rodorum
patagonica Harmothoe
paiicibranchiatus Physalidonotus
Pelagobia
perarmatus Isomastus
Phenacia
Phyllocomus ...
Phyllodoce
Physalidonotus
Phyzelia
PlONOSYLLlS
Platynekeis ...
Polybostrichus
Polycirrus
polymnia
potamilla
producta L.^stmonice
Promenia
Pterautolytus...
Pterocirrus
puerilis Ophryotrocha
pycnohranchiala Eunice
reyi Eteone
rhombigera Enipo
Rhodine
richardi Trypanosyllis
rouchi Hermadion
rugosus Physalidonotus
page,
50
108
73
77
112
91
68
65
84
113
72
30
78
72
69
72
75
42
40
57
105
91
97
51
35
83
22
67
29
94
84
109
31
81
30
52
73
70
56
32
105
2*
40
35
12S AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION?.
PAGE.
Sacconereis ... 29
Salvatoria ... ... ... ... ... ... 26
Samytha, speculalrix 105
SCIONE ... ... 85
SCOLOPLOS ... ... ... ... ... 78
septentrionaUs Tomopteris ... 64
Serpula 112
setosa Phenacia 91
setosus Thelepus 91
siberti Staurocephalus ... ... ... ... ... 73
simplex Autolytus ... ... ... ... 29
spectdbilis Neottis ... ... ... ... 91
spectabilis Thelepus ... , ... 91
speculatrix Samytha ... ... 105
sphcerocephala Lumbriconereis ... ... 72
Sph^rodorum 74
SPHyEROSY'LLIS 26
spinifera Scione ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 85
spinosa Harmothoe ... ... 35
spissum Sph.erodorum ... 74
Spirorbis 113
Staurocephalus ... 73
streptochwta Leprea ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 94
Syllis 20
l(tni(tformis Syllis 24
tentaculata Eunice 70
Terebella 82
Thelepus 91
Tomopteris 61
trissophyllus Nephthys ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 68
Trypanosyllis .. 23
tuherosa Harmothoe ... ... 39
turqueti Exogone 24
typica Harmothoe spinosa 38
uncinata Nereis ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 65
Vanadis ... 58
vayssieri Terebella ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 83
vermicularis Serpula 112
vesicuhsa Lagisca ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 42
viguieri Pelagobia ... ... ... 57
virginis Nephthys ... ... ... ... ... 68
yungi Isocirrus 106
[6 Platea ; 1 iMap.]
AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.
SERIES C. VOL. VI PLATE 5,
AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.
SERIES C VOL VI. PLATE b.
AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.
SERIES C. VOL. VI. PLATE 7.
AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.
SERIES C. VOL. VI.
AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.
SERIES C- VOL. VI. PLATE 9
105
AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.
SERIES C. VOL. VI. PLATE 10.
\ hVkOAOAa- :ah
BATHYMETRIC MAP
OF THE ANTARCTIC AND SOUTHERN OCEANS
COMPILED BY
J.A.THOMSON
1917
^i, 11 .1 T R A L 1 A:'
\ I Q-IOOO fathoms
1 I 1000-2000 ..
I J 2000
Series C. -REPORTS IN COURSE OF PREPARATION.
FORAMINIFERA
HYDROZOA...
ACTINOZOA ...
TREMATODES
CESTODES ...
NEMATODES (FREE)
ROTIFERA AND TARDIGRADA
POLYZOA ...
ECfflNOIDEA
ASTEROIDEA AND OPHIUROIDEA ...
CRINOIDEA AND HOLOTHUROroEA
ANNULATA (EXCEPT LEECHES) ...
LEECHES
CRUSTACEA AMPHIPODA AND C. ISOPODA
CRUSTACEA MACRURA AND G. CIRRIPEDA
MALLOPHAGA
TICKS
PYCNOGOXIDA
TUNICATES
BIRDS
JIAMilALS
ZOOLOGY.
Mr. F. Chapman, A.L.S., F.R.M.S., National Museum, MelbouTDe,
Mi. E. a. Bp.iggs, B.Sc, Australian Museum, Sydney.
Prof. J. Arthur Thomson, F.R.S.j University, Aberdeen.
Dr. S. J. Johnston, University, Sydney.
Dr. T. Habvey Johnston, University, Brisbane.
Dr. N. A. Cobb, Bureau of Plant Industry, Washington, U.S.A.
Mr. J. Shephajrd, Melbourne.
Miss L. R. Thornelet, Ambleside, England.
Prof. R. KoBHLEE, Universite, Lyon, France.
Prof. R. KoEHLEE, Universite, Lyon, France.
Prof. M. Vaney, Universite, Lyonj France.
Prof. W. B. Benham, M.A., D.Sc, F.R.S., University of Otago,
Dunedin, New Zealand.
Chas. Badham. B.Sc.i M.B., University of Sydney.
Prof. C. Chilton, M.A.^ D.Sc, F.L.S.5 Canterbury CollegCj Cbrist-
church. New Zealand.
Mies F. Bage, M.Sc.j F.L.S.j Universityj Brisbane.
Dr. T. Habvey Johnston^ University, Brisbane, and Mr. L.
Habeison, B.Sc., Sydney.
Mr. L. Habkison, B.Sc.; Sydney.
Prof. T. T. Flynn, B.Sc., University of Tasmania, Hobart.
Prof. W. A. Heedman, F.R.S., University, Liverpool, England.
Mr. H. Hamilton, Dominion Museum, Wellington, N.Z., and
Mr. R. Basset Hull, Sydney.
Mr. H. Hamilton, Dominion Museum, Wellington, N.Z.
BOTANY.
PHYTOPLANKTON AND FRESH- WATER Mr. A. Manx, National Museum, Washington.
ALGAE.
LICHENS AND FUNGI Mr. E. Cheel, Botanic Gardens, Sydney.
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